European Network of National Human Rights Institutions

13/08/2026

One month ago today, something important started in Geneva: negotiations on a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.

🛡️ It is vital for creating a ; one where we protect the rights of all generations equally.

🗣️ Speaking during the opening day of negotiations, we made clear that:

- The new Convention must adopt a human rights-based approach, recognising older persons as full rights-holders and addressing ageism and age discrimination.

- The new Convention should close existing protection gaps, build on international and regional human rights standards, and ensure protection for older persons facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

- The drafting process must guarantee the meaningful, full and equal participation of older persons, their representative organisations, civil society and National Human Rights Institutions ( ) throughout the negotiations.

🎙️ We were represented by Abigail Booth of the Swedish Human Rights Institute, Co-Chair of our Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons.

🤝 We look forward to contributing our expertise during the upcoming rounds of negotiations.

Our rights don’t disappear with age - this Convention can help make that a reality.

👉 Read more in our article – https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/nhris-make-important-contributions-as-further-steps-taken-towards-un-convention-on-rights-of-older-persons/

👉 Learn more about our work on the rights of older persons -https://ennhri.org/our-work/topics/rights-of-older-persons/

10/08/2026

🗞️ Want to find out what we've been up to over the past few months? Then it's time you read our second newsletter of 2026.

🔎 Discover how National Human Rights Institutions ( ) continue making key contributions to human rights, democracy and the rule of law across wider Europe.

Here are a few highlights:

· 📚 Our 2026 rule of law reports, covering the EU, EU enlargement countries and the wider Council of Europe region.
· ⚖️ The Council of Europe's Chișinău Declaration on migration and human rights, and our Q&A on its impact and possible next steps.
· 🎓 Highlights from the NHRI Academy 2026 in Zagreb and a thematic event on implementing European Court of Human Rights judgments in Berlin.
· 🧭 A new explainer unpacking the rule of law, looking at what it means and why it matters.

👀 Subscribe here and read previous editions to make sure you don't miss our latest news - 👉 https://ennhri.org/newsletter/

04/08/2026

💭 Often, we spend time focusing only on what is to come. Yet it's also important to reflect on things past.

👀 Read our recently launched Annual Report 2025 to discover our accomplishments from last year.

Looking back at 2025, we continued working alongside European National Human Rights Institutions ( ) to keep human rights protection strong across Europe. Our network kept growing and we set a new course for what's ahead.

🔎 Explore how we advanced our three core objectives: building more and stronger NHRIs; enabling more effective protection of human rights; and growing a more sustainable network - all while deepening ties with our members and partners.

Some highlights from 2025 are:

▶️ Two new members joined ENNHRI - the Icelandic Human Rights Institute and the High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights and for Mediation of Monaco - bringing the network to 51 institutions.

▶️ A new Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

▶️ Our 6th consecutive flagship rule of law report, including a new dedicated report on EU enlargement countries.

▶️ The NHRI Academy 2025 in Warsaw, which focused on protecting human rights defenders.

👥 None of this would have been possible without our members and partners standing together.

With human rights, democracy 🏛️ and the rule of law ⚖️ increasingly under strain across Europe, this solidarity matters more than ever.

👉 Learn more on our dedicated annual report webpage: https://ennhri.org/about-us/annual-reports/

📄 Read the new report here: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/notice/ennhri-2025-annual-report/

29/07/2026

📢 Out now: our new 2026 regional report on the state of the rule of law in Europe!

For the seventh year running, National Human Rights Institutions ( ) across the Council of Europe region have put a spotlight on their national situations.

This year's report points to several challenges:

🏛️ NHRIs, civil society organisations and other human rights defenders still face persistent funding gaps, a lack of consultation, negative narratives, and barriers to accessing information.

⚠️ Disinformation keeps eroding public trust in institutions, while law-making is increasingly affected by fast-track procedures, limited participation and lack of human rights impact assessments.

So, what needs to change? Our report recommends how national and regional actors can reinforce the rule of law.

📌 We call on them to strengthen NHRIs' enabling environment, protect civil society space, tackle disinformation, and make law-making more transparent.

⚖️ The rule of law underpins every resilient, stable and just democracy. That's why strong, independent and well-resourced NHRIs matter: they are key to upholding both principles.

🤝 Despite the tough times, NHRIs continue their vital work to advance the rule of law, democracy, and human rights.

📑 Read the 2026 regional overview: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/?country%5B0%5D=2&year%5B0%5D=2026&

🔗 Discover key insights in our latest article: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/nhris-deliver-critical-insights-on-the-state-of-the-rule-of-law-in-europe/

🔎 Explore full findings and all 40+ country reports in our online database: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/

22/07/2026

📢 It’s here! Our Annual Report 2025 is out now.

Looking back at 2025, we continued working alongside European National Human Rights Institutions ( ) to keep human rights protection strong across Europe. Our network kept growing and we set a new course for what's ahead.

🔎 Explore how we advanced our three core objectives: building more and stronger NHRIs; enabling more effective protection of human rights; and growing a more sustainable network - all while deepening ties with our members and partners.

2025 highlights include:

▶️ Two new members joined ENNHRI - the Icelandic Human Rights Institute and the High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights and for Mediation of Monaco - bringing the network to 51 institutions.

▶️ A new Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

▶️ Our 6th consecutive flagship rule of law report, including a dedicated report on EU enlargement countries.

▶️ The NHRI Academy 2025 in Warsaw, focused on protecting human rights defenders.

👥 None of this would be possible without our members and partners standing together. As pressure on human rights, democracy 🏛️ and the rule of law ⚖️ intensifies across Europe, that solidarity matters more than ever.

👉 Learn more on our dedicated webpage: https://ennhri.org/about-us/annual-reports/

📄 Read the full report here:https://ennhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-ENNHRI-2025-Annual-Report-.pdf

17/07/2026

📋 Today, the European Commission published the 7th edition of its Annual Rule of Law Report.

Once again, National Human Rights Institutions ( ) across Europe played a key role by contributing to this process, feeding in national insights, flagging emerging risks, and grounding the report in evidence from the frontlines of human rights protection.

This builds directly on two recent ENNHRI releases: our flagship EU Rule of Law Report and our dedicated Report on the State of the Rule of Law in the EU Enlargement countries.

⚖️ Together, these reports reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening the rule of law across Europe, as the everyday guarantee of human rights, accountability, and trust in institutions.

🔗 Discover the 2026 full findings in our EU Rule of Law Report: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/node/349

🔎 Explore the 2026 Report on the State of the Rule of Law in the EU Enlargement countries and more individual country reports in our online tool: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/node/361

The Annual Rule of Law Report is a driver for reforms based on close engagement with EU Member States.

Today the European Commission published its 7th edition. The Rule of Law is a cornerstone of EU values.

It examines rule of law developments in all EU Member States and four enlargement countries. This year's Report shows that the positive reform dynamic has continued.

It includes key findings on:

🔹Justice systems

🔹Anti-corruption frameworks

🔹Media freedom and pluralism

🔹Institutional checks and balances

Today and every day, we reaffirm that the rule of law is the foundation of fairness in Europe.

17/07/2026

⏳Six weeks on, and the NHRI Academy 2026 still resonates.

🛡️From 1 to 5 June, National Human Rights Institutions ( ) from across the OSCE region gathered in Zagreb for a week of exchange and reflection on one of today's most pressing challenges: how to counter anti-human rights narratives, disinformation and polarisation.

📚 Session summaries, presentations, key resources and photos are now live on our website, ready for you to explore or revisit.
Whether you were in the room or are catching up now, you can now explore the full materials on our dedicated webpage👉 https://ennhri.org/nhri-academy-2026/

🔎 Curious about past editions? We've co-organised the NHRI Academy with OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) since 2014 👉 https://ennhri.org/our-work/nhri-academy/

🙏 Thank you to all participants, trainers, speakers and our co-organisers at OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia for making this year's Academy possible.

13/07/2026

📢 It's here: our new report on the state of the rule of law in the EU enlargement countries is out!

Drawing on insights from National Human Rights Institutions ( ) across the EU enlargement region, the report offers a comparative overview of trends, progress, and persistent gaps alongside recommendations to strengthen the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU enlargement context.

Overall, a mixed picture emerges. Recurring challenges include:

🏛️ Uneven independence and adequate resourcing of NHRIs
🔻 Shrinking space for civil society and human rights defenders
⚠️ Disinformation and online harassment eroding public trust
⚖️ Justice systems still struggling with delays and ECtHR implementation

Despite these circumstances, NHRIs remain committed to exercising their mandates, advancing reform, monitoring developments, and standing by civil society and human rights defenders across the region 🤝.

To support this progress, the report calls on national authorities, the EU and regional actors to work together in strengthening human rights protections.

Ultimately, supporting NHRIs means strengthening the rule of law ⚖️, democratic resilience 🏛️, and fundamental rights 👥 throughout the EU accession process.

📑 Read the 2026 overview: https://rule-of-law.ennhri.org/?country%5B0%5D=72&year%5B0%5D=2026&

🔗 Find key insights in our latest article: https://ennhri.org/news-and-blog/rule-of-law-civil-society-space-and-democracy-continue-to-face-challenges-across-the-eu-enlargement-region/

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

06/07/2026

📍 Last week, ENNHRI's Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights met in Athens, hosted by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) - Εθνική Επιτροπή για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου - ΕΕΔΑ .

Over two enriching and energising days, members shared country experiences and good practices, and dove into some of the field's most pressing issues:

▶️ Gender equality and women's participation in economic life
▶️ A cultural rights approach that moves beyond access to inclusive participation
▶️ The (de)criminalisation of life-sustaining activities by people who are homeless

The meeting closed with a panel reflecting on human dignity and social inclusion in situations of vulnerability. Sophie Hale, ENNHRI's Human Rights Officer, attended on behalf of the Secretariat.

🤝 It was also a moment to mark a change in leadership, with the Working Group’s chairship handed over to Dr. Lê Phan-Warnke from the German Institute for Human Rights and Veerle Stroobants from the Belgian Combat Poverty Service.

Our big thanks to outgoing Chair Katerina Charokopou for her work leading the group over the past years.

30/06/2026

📍 This week we’re in Strasbourg to speak with key partners and attend the latest Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) plenary.

The Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights are some of our and NHRIs’ most vital allies in promoting and protecting human rights in Europe.

We were therefore delighted to sit down yesterday with Alain Bersett, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l'homme.

In what was our first meeting with Alain Berset, we discussed how:

▶️ enhance the domestic impact of key Council of Europe work. There is already strong cooperation on executing European Court of Human Rights’ judgments, implementing the European Convention on Human Rights, and more.

▶️ The implementation review of the Council of Europe Recommendation on NHRIs is a major opportunity to build on this robust base. Not only to boost NHRI support from and participation at the Council of Europe, but to reinforce NHRI and Council of Europe collaboration.

▶️ We need to embrace momentum from the New Democratic Pact and forge the stronger alliances essential to advancing human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

During our meeting with Mattias Guyomar, we together reflected on:

▶️ How to take forward last week’s event in Berlin on the ex*****on of Court judgments and to continue forging closer cooperation between NHRIs and the Court.

▶️ How ENNHRI will continue supporting the Court and its work, including speaking up for its independence and fundamental importance - as it did in the context of recent developments at the Council of Europe.

We were also joined by Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of the Court.

👥️ Representing us in yesterday’s meetings were Louise Holck, ENNHRI Chair, and Debbie Kohner, ENNHRI Secretary General. They are joined in Strasbourg by ENNHRI colleague, Giulia Centonze.

🤝 We look forward to building on these invaluable conversations and strengthening our common work to advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law for all in Europe.

In the upcoming CDDH plenary, the review of the implementation of the Council of Recommendation on NHRIs is high on the agenda. We’ll outline insights from our members on progress and key challenges regarding this.