ENNHRI is the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. We bring together over 40 National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across Europe to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. Our network provides a platform for collaboration and solidarity in addressing human rights challenges and a common voice for NHRIs at the European level.
NHRIs are state-mandated bodies, independent of government, with a broad constitutional or legal mandate to promote and protect human rights at the national level. They can take different forms, including ombuds institutions, human rights commissions and institutes.
At ENNHRI, we work to:
- Strengthen NHRIs by facilitating the exchange of information and good practices and organising capacity-building activities
- Support NHRIs with their compliance with the UN Paris Principles during their establishment, accreditation and when they come under threat
- Connect NHRIs to European institutions by facilitating their engagement with regional mechanisms, raising their visibility and intervening on regional legal and policy developments
Our vision
The universal and effective enjoyment of human rights throughout Europe
Our mission
Promote and protect human rights through strengthening, supporting and connecting European NHRIs
Our values
- Respect of international human rights standards
- Transparency
- Cooperation
- Accountability
- Non-discrimination and respect for diversity
- Participation
- Independence
- Solidarity
STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2025
Our Strategic Plan 2022-2025 focuses our resources to areas where we can have the strongest impact, strengthen European NHRIs’ work and complement the work of our partners at the European level.
The Strategic Plan includes three core objectives:
More and stronger NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles
More effective promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law
A stronger and more sustainable network
Our Members
We have 47 members across Europe, which include all accredited NHRIs in the region. As shown below, they have a diversity of mandates.
26
Ombuds institutions
21
Equality bodies
26
Monitoring bodies
under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
26
National Preventive Mechanisms
under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture
25
European Union Member States
40
Council of Europe member states
Since 2013 we’ve been supporting, strengthening and connecting NHRIs to enhance the promotion and protection of Human Rights across Europe. Our members make us who we are.
As the network marks its tenth anniversary year, a new video captures what being part of ENNHRI means for its member NHRIs and their work.
As a diverse network ENNHRI means slightly different things to all of its members. Their diversity of perspectives is what makes the network so rich.
Watch our video to learn more about their unique perspectives.
Our thematic areas
We work on a number of human rights issues in Europe, with the focus on:
We also facilitate collective work among European NHRIs in the following areas:
Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions
We are one of four regional networks of NHRIs (the others being the regional networks of Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific), which together make up the Global Alliance of NHRIs (GANHRI). Established in 1993, and previously known as the International Coordinating Committee, GANHRI promotes the role of NHRIs worldwide, providing a forum for its members to interact and exchange, as well as facilitating their engagement with international organisations. Through its Sub-Committee on Accreditation, GANHRI also undertakes NHRI accreditation and re-accreditation by evaluating their compliance with the UN Paris Principles.
