GOVERNANCE BODIES
Learn about our governance bodies:
STATUTES
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Our General Assembly is our highest decision making body, in which all members participate. It shapes the guiding principles of our policies and activities and adopts the strategic plan, annual budget and operational plan.
The General Assembly usually meets bi-annually: in March, on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the Global Alliance of NHRIs in Geneva, and in the autumn. Decisions are taken by consensus where possible and, only when required, by vote of A-status NHRI members.
Board
Our Board is made up of six elected A-status NHRIs. Led by the Chair, it drives our strategic priorities and is responsible for the network’s management and administration. The General Assembly elects the Chair for a three-year term. They oversee the direction and management of ENNHRI and serve as the network’s primary representative. Each Board member also has a three-year mandate.
The current Board and Chair started their terms on 31 March 2022.
Sirpa RautioÂ
Finnish Human Rights Centre – Chair
Erinda Ballanca
People’s Advocate of Albania
Diana Kovatcheva
Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria
Beate Rudolf
German Institute for Human Rights
Petter Wille
Norwegian National Human Rights Institution
Miroslaw Wróblewski
Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland
Finance Committee
Our Finance Committee, led by its Chair, oversees our financial situation and fundraising and makes proposals to the Board and General Assembly to strengthen our financial outlook. The Finance Committee also advises the Secretariat on financial administration and makes recommendations on membership fee waiver applications.
Finance Committee 2022-2025
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (Lorraine Hamill) – Chair
- Unia – Belgian Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (Emmanuel Schelfthout)
- Equality and Human Rights Commission – Great Britain (Alan Sharman)
- German Institute for Human Rights (Michael Windfuhr)
Permanent Secretariat & Secretary-General
Our Secretariat is based in Brussels, Belgium. Established in 2013, it supports and facilitates our work and provides a central contact point for stakeholders. The Secretariat undertakes the day-to-day management of the network by implementing the Strategic Plan and annual operational plans, as well as the decisions of the Chair, Board and General Assembly.
The Secretariat is directed and managed by the Secretary-General, Debbie Kohner.
Working Groups
Our Working Groups have expertise in various thematic areas, such as: European legal structures; economic, social and cultural rights; asylum and migration; and communications. The Working Groups take a lead in our substantive engagement on these topics. They also offer a platform for learning and solidarity among members, and facilitate regional responses from NHRIs in specific thematic areas.
Learn more:
