Why this report? Strengthening NHRIs in the EU

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NHRIs are independent organisations set up by states to promote and protect

human rights within their countries. The organisations come in various forms–

such as human rights commissions, ombuds institutions– and commonly

have multiple mandates. For example, half of the NHRIs covered by this

report are also ombuds institutions2 and 16 have either full or partial equality

mandates (for more detail, see Section1.1.2, ‘NHRIs with multiple mandates’).

Regardless of their exact structure and powers, they are vital to advancing

human rights at the national level.

NHRIs have inherent links to international human rights law, which strengthens

their roles and impact, and they are subject to the international minimum

standards set out in the Paris Principles.3 These Principles provide the framework

for independence and effectiveness in promoting and protecting human

rights. The UnitedNations(UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

specif‌ically Sustainable Development Goal16 on strong institutions, includes

an indicator for NHRIs compliant with the Paris Principles (indicator16.A.1.).

According to the GlobalAllianceofNationalHumanRightsInstitutions(GANHRI), the

organisation overseeing the compliance of NHRIs with the Paris Principles, in the

general observations adopted by its Sub-committeeonAccreditation(SCA):

“NHRIs are established by States for the specif‌ic purpose of advancing and

This report aims to contribute to strengthening national human

rightsinstitutions’(NHRIs’) effectiveness and impact in EU Member States

and within the EU framework. The report provides an overview of the

status and roles of NHRIs in the EU Member States, North Macedonia,

Serbia and the United Kingdom. It focuses on developments since the

EuropeanUnionAgencyforFundamentalRights’(FRA’s) previous report on

NHRIs, in 2010.1

The report also offers acomparative analysis, outlining the diverse factors

that affect NHRIs’ independence and effectiveness and impact, and looks at

opportunities for them to address challenges. It highlights the role of NHRIs

in the EU. It also indicates promising practices and the potential for greater

engagement such as the role of the NHRIs in supporting monitoring of the

rule of law and compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the

European Union (the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights).

Why this report? Strengthening NHRIs

in the EU

What are national human rights

institutions?