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European Network of National Human Rights Institutions

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European Network of National Human Rights Institutions

ENNHRI is the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. We bring together 50 National Human Rights Institutions across wider Europe.

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are independent bodies with a constitutional or legal mandate to promote and protect human rights. They are a key element of a strong and effective national, regional and global human rights framework. The NHRIs of the European region first met in 1994 under the auspices of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The following meeting took place in Copenhage

n, where the European Coordinating Group was set up in order to enhance the cooperation with OHCHR, the Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR). A third meeting was, consequently held in context of roundtable with Council of Europe in 2000 in Strasbourg. The turning point for the formalisation of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, was its fourth meeting in Dublin where the members approved the Group’s Rules of Procedure and agreed to meet annually in the margins of GANHRI Annual meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The European Group of NHRIs recruited a Secretary General to establish a Permanent Secretariat in Brussels in May 2013. ENNHRI has now membership of 41 NHRIs from across wider Europe, and ENNHRI Secretariat employs the Secretary General, 7 Permanent Staff Members and a Trainee. ENNHRI’s vision is:
The universal and effective enjoyment of human rights throughout Europe

ENNHRI’s values are:
Respect of international human rights standards
Transparency
Cooperation
Accountability
Participation
Non-discrimination
Independence

ENNHRI's thematic work:
European structures to support human rights
Human rights of persons with disabilities
Human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Human rights of older persons in long-term care
Economic and social rights
Counter-terrorism and human rights
Business and human rights

12/06/2026

💥 This time last week we wrapped up the NHRI Academy 2026 in Zagreb: what a week it was!

Across five days of learning, sharing and connecting, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from the OSCE region looked at how they can lead the response to rising anti-rights narratives, disinformation and polarisation.

💡 27 NHRI representatives reflected on using their mandates to do so. Key topics included:

🔹Approaches for reaching new and sceptical audiences and effective human rights advocacy in the shifting information landscape

🔹Strategies to counter anti-migrant narratives and disinformation

🔹Economic insecurity, polarisation, economic and social rights and trust

🔹How disinformation drives anti-rights narratives, polarisation, discrimination and hate crime

🔹Impacts of AI and algorithms on rights-related information and narratives

🗣️ Several NHRIs and a civil society organisation presented their work, offering invaluable lessons. Participants also heard how ODIHR and ENNHRI support NHRIs and about mainstreaming gender and the Paris Principles in their work.

📌 Concluding the week, we identified key takeaways from our time together. Among them were:

➡ Stories make human rights real, often proving more convincing than legal arguments with the ‘persuadable middle’. Evoking empathy, our shared humanity, and the universality of human rights are key.

➡ Put yourself in your audience’s shoes: try to understand their motivations, fears, and what matters to them. Equally, listen before communicating.

➡ Naming human rights violations and those responsible is not enough - name your solution(s) as well.

➡ Disinformation aims to confuse, fragment and divide. More than just an information challenge, it threatens democratic resilience and incites hate crime and discrimination.

➡ Economic uncertainty and insecurity are impacting trust in institutions, social cooperation and perception of rights. Existing frameworks offer solutions to this, and NHRIs are pivotal to making this clear.

➡ Trust is more important than agreement, and scepticism doesn’t necessarily equal hostility.

➡ We need to use the new platforms, methods and content forms that have emerged to reach people.

➡ There are issues with disinformation from chatbots and other such AI tools and the related accountability.

All participants developed actions plans to take their learning forward at their home institutions.

🙏 Thanks to our wonderful participants and trainers for this enriching week.

Huge thanks also to our co-organisers at OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia for partnering with us.

👇 See a selection of photos from the .

📖 Read about previous NHRI Academies - https://ennhri.org/our-work/nhri-academy/

11/06/2026

With the European Union (EU) Pact on Migration entering into application tomorrow, we reaffirm the importance of strong human rights protections and effective, independent human rights monitoring in the context of the Pact.

Both our new statement, released today, and our other engagement over the last two years make this clear.

One key protection is that EU Member States must establish independent monitoring mechanisms for fundamental rights monitoring during Screening and Asylum Regulation Procedures.

With numerous NHRIs assigned as such mechanisms, there remain many questions and concerns on their functioning.

We reiterate that these monitoring mechanisms should:

· Be fully independent, which is a precondition for effective fundamental rights monitoring

· Receive adequate resources and sufficient funding

· Have a broad scope and powers

· Cooperate with existing actors conducting monitoring and reporting at borders

· Be consulted when they are assigned as monitoring bodies, both during the establishment and implementation phase.

NHRIs are pivotal to upholding the human rights of migrants and asylum seekers. They can provide independent oversight, expertise and monitoring on whether the Pact’s implementation complies with international and regional human rights law obligations.

Meaningful cooperation with and support to NHRIs will strengthen the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and accountability in the context of migration. This is essential as the Pact is implemented in the months ahead.

Find our previous common position on the Pact 👉https://ennhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Final-_ENNHRI-updated-opinion-on-independent-monitoring-mechanisms-in-EU-migration-pact.pdf

Read more about our work on migration here 👉 https://ennhri.org/our-work/topics/asylum-and-migration/

Read our new statement here 👉https://ennhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ENNHRI-Statement-on-the-Implementation-of-the-EU-Pact-on-Migration-and-Asylum.pdf

10/06/2026

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are vital to making the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights a reality in people’s lives.

That is why this year’s European Commission report on applying the Charter will focus on the role of NHRIs - alongside Equality Bodies and Ombuds institutions - in doing so.

Indeed, the EU already recognises NHRIs as vital for Charter implementation and protecting fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law.

However, there is scope to strengthen NHRIs and their key roles in applying the Charter and beyond.

In our newly published submission to this year’s Charter report, we outline how to achieve this.

Central to the way forward is adopting a European Union Recommendation on NHRIs or other appropriate means.

Building on this, we recommend that the European Commission and EU Member States to:

· Strengthen the recognition and understanding of the role of NHRIs under the EU acquis.

· Create and advance avenues for NHRIs’ and ENNHRI’s meaningful engagement in relevant EU law- and policy-making processes.

· Support NHRIs to protect fellow human rights defenders and civic space.

· Address structural challenges and threats to NHRIs more effectively and ensure an enabling environment for NHRIs.

· Strengthen the coherence between support to NHRIs in the internal and external dimensions of the EU.

As our Secretary-General, Debbie Kohner emphasised today in a webinar on the Charter organised by KU Leuven and the European Commission : stronger NHRIs mean stronger implementation of the EU Charter and core EU values.

🙌We look forward to working closely with all relevant actors to turn our recommendations into reality.

📃Learn more in our article: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/strengthening-nhris-key-role-in-applying-the-eu-charter-and-beyond-the-2026-charter-report-is-a-unique-opportunity-2/

🔗Read our full submission to the Charter report: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/notice/ennhri-submission-to-the-european-commissions-2026-report-on-eu-charter-of-fundamental-rights/

05/06/2026

📢 Big news: Our 2026 report on the state of the rule of law in the European Union (EU) is out now!

⚖️ It gathers insights from National Human Rights Institutions ( ) across the EU.

They highlight key developments, ongoing challenges, and concrete recommendations to strengthen the rule of law.

This year's findings paint a concerning overall picture. The challenges include:

🏛️ NHRIs facing funding gaps, attacks, and misinformation campaigns

🔻 Further deterioration of civil society space across EU Member States

⚠️ Disinformation undermining democratic systems and public trust

📋 Recurring shortcomings in law-making processes

Despite this, NHRIs continue pushing for stronger human rights protection - and there are signs of progress.

To build on these, the report sets out steps for national and European actors to reinforce the across the ⚖️.

📑 Read the 2026 EU overview: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/?country%5B0%5D=69&year%5B0%5D=2026&

🔗 Find key insights in our article: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/rule-of-law-civil-society-space-and-democracy-under-pressure-across-the-eu/

🔎 Explore full findings and country reports in our online tool: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/

02/06/2026

⚖️ Now more than ever, the rule of law matters.

Knowing that the rules apply equally and predictably lets people live with confidence – from signing a job contract to renting a home or speaking freely in public.

When the rule of law is strong, rights are respected. People are protected from abuse of power, treated fairly and given equal access to justice and public services.

This is why, as the rule of law comes under increasing pressure, it’s so important to protect it.

🤝 Doing so means protecting people’s ability to live their lives, defend their rights, and be part of a system that works for everyone.

That is what the rule of law really is – the infrastructure that allows society to move forward. Together.

For more on what the rule of law stands for and why it matters, dive into a new explainer below.

👉 Scroll through it here: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/notice/the-rule-of-law-and-why-it-matters-explained/

🗺️ Or see it as a map: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/notice/the-rule-of-law-and-why-it-matters-explained-map-form/

01/06/2026

🎉 The 13th edition of the NHRI Academy has begun today in Zagreb, Croatia📍

During this week-long training, over 25 National Human Rights Institutions ( ) are coming together to explore how they can lead the response to disinformation, polarisation and anti-human rights narratives. They’ll leave equipped to tackle these challenges and to advance empowering rights-based narratives in the process.

🌐 Stay tuned for updates and key takeaways from the enriching week ahead.

🔎 Discover more about the NHRI Academy 2026, including the full span of topics and all the trainers: https://ennhri.org/nhri-academy-2026/

🤝As in previous years, ENNHRI is co-organising the NHRI Academy with OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

👥 This year’s event is being held in partnership with the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia, our member in the country.

🔗 Read more about previous editions: https://lnkd.in/eEBQ7xih

26/05/2026

📢 Exciting times are ahead!

Next week, the 13th edition of the NHRI Academy will take place in Zagreb.

Representatives from over 25 National Human Rights Institutions will come together on 1–5 June to explore the role of NHRIs in promoting and protecting human rights in a shifting information landscape.

At a time when disinformation, polarisation and anti-human rights narratives are reshaping public discourse, how can NHRIs help lead the response?

Participants will leave equipped with practical tools to respond to these and other pressing challenges and to advance empowering human rights narratives.

The NHRI Academy is an annual flagship event that we co-organise with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. This year’s event is also being supported by the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia.

👉 Find out more about the event: https://lnkd.in/eH_fWWNP

15/05/2026

Today’s adoption of the Council of Europe Chişinău Declaration on migration and human rights is a significant moment.

But what exactly is the Declaration? What could it mean for migrants’ rights, legal protections and courts? What comes next?

Find out by reading our new Q&A, which we’ve released to inform debate on these and other key questions.

➡️ Explore it on our website - https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/council-of-europe-chisinau-declaration-on-migration-and-human-rights-ennhri-questions-and-answers/

➡️ Download and read our Q&A as a PDF – https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/notice/the-council-of-europe-chisinau-declaration-ennhri-qa/

15/05/2026

This morning, the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe has adopted its Chişinău Declaration.

The Declaration is a non-binding document expressing the views and concerns of member State governments on migration and human rights protection in Europe, in particular relating to the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention) system.

We engaged extensively throughout its development, participating in meetings of the Council of Europe committee established to prepare a draft of the Declaration, submitting drafting proposals, and releasing statements.

Throughout these, we called on the Council of Europe member States to ensure that the Declaration respects and affirms the human rights of all individuals in Europe and protects the independence of the European Court of Human Rights and the integrity of the Convention system.

Following its release, we will continue to closely follow developments and work to promote and protect the rights of all - as enshrined in the Convention.

Read the full text of the Chişinău Declaration: https://rm.coe.int/pdf/09125948802bc2cc

12/05/2026

🌐 We recently added new good practices to our resource on AI and human rights!

Find out how National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across Europe are promoting and protecting our rights in the digital space. Here is a snapshot of what you will find:

⚖️ How NHRIs are shaping government positions and policy frameworks at national and European level.

🔎 Investigating and helping address the impacts of algorithmic harm, biometric data misuse, automated decision-making, and more.

🤝 How NHRIs are equipping themselves and others with resources and knowledge to tackle challenges posed by AI.

🔗 Explore all good practices in our AI resource 👉: https://ennhri.org/ai-resource/good-practices/

Adres

PlACE
Brussels
1000

Openingstijden

Maandag	09:00 - 18:00
Dinsdag	09:00 - 18:00
Woensdag	09:00 - 18:00
Donderdag	09:00 - 18:00
Vrijdag	09:00 - 18:00

Website

http://www.ennhri.org/

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