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.

Presentation of highlights at ENNHRI at General Assembly meeting (22 November 2022 - Brussels, Belgium)
General Assembly meeting (22 November 2022 - Brussels, Belgium)

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 Rautio 
Finnish Human Rights Centre – Chair

Erinda Ballanca

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)
ENNHRI Finance Committee Chair, Lorraine Hamill, seated next to ENNHRI Chair, Sirpa Rautio, and ENNHRI Secretary-General, Debbie Kohner at the November 2022 General Assembly meeting in Brussels
ENNHRI Finance Committee Chair, Lorraine Hamill, next to ENNHRI Chair, Sirpa Rautio, and ENNHRI Secretary-General, Debbie Kohner, at General Assembly meeting (22 November 2022 - Brussels, Belgium)

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.

ENNHRI Secretariat
ENNHRI Secretariat (15 May 2019 - Brussels, Belgium)

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:

ENNHRI member group representatives at the General Assembly 2022 (22 November - Brussels, Belgium)
ENNHRI member group representatives present at the General Assembly 2022 (22 November - Brussels, Belgium)