ENNHRI’s 10th anniversary conference:
Advancing human rights, democracy and rule of law at a critical time in Europe: the role of NHRIs and ENNHRI
10 October 2023, Brussels
About
2023 is a milestone year for the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI): the network turns 10! To mark this, ENNHRI held an anniversary conference on 10 October 2023 in Brussels. This was an ideal time to take stock of and celebrate what NHRIs have achieved – individually and collectively – to promote and protect human rights and how the network contributed to this.
Partnerships have been central to the last decade’s accomplishments, which have come in an often difficult environment for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. With heads of NHRIs, regional partners and civil society gathered together, the event was also the perfect moment to reflect on how NHRIs and Europe’s wider human rights community can tackle future challenges. Together.
Event details
Gathering leading figures from Europe’s human rights community, the conference considered how we can advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law throughout Europe, and the central role of NHRIs and ENNHRI in doing so.
Two keynote speeches set the scene. These came from Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, and Ingrid Bellander-Todino, Head of Unit – Fundamental Rights Policy at the EU’s DG Justice and Consumers (stepping in for Věra Jourová, European Commission Vice-President for Transparency and Values). Interactive panel discussions then dove further into the day’s main topics, with an evening reception then closing the conference.
The conference venue was the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium (the entrance at Rue Du Musée 5). An ENNHRI General Assembly took place the day before.
Relive the event
See below photos taken during the General Assembly on 9 October and the 10th anniversary conference on 10 October.
See a series of illustrations created by Julia Hoffman, a visual harvester, that illustrate the debates and key topics of the conference.
Relive the event
Go to our Flickr account to see photos taken during the General Assembly on 9 October and the 10th anniversary conference on 10 October.
Speakers
Leading figures from the world of human rights spoke at our conference. They were:
Věra Jourová –
Keynote speech
European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency
Sirpa Rautio
ENNHRI Chair, Director Finnish Human Rights Centre
Debbie Kohner
ENNHRI Secretary-General
Christophe Poirel
Director Human Rights, Council of Europe
Michel Forst
Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, UN Economic Commission for Europe
Dmytro Lubinets
Commissioner for Human Rights Ukraine
Peter Svetina
Human Rights Ombudsman Slovenia
Sinéad Gibney
Chief Commissioner Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Beate Rudolf
Director German Institute for Human Rights
Elena Kountouri Tapiero
Acting Regional Representative for Europe, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Regional Office for Europe
Rick Lawson
Vice-Chair Management Board, EU Fundamental Rights Agency
Programme
13.30 – 13.40
Welcome
Sirpa Rautio, ENNHRI Chair
13.40 – 14.30
Keynotes speeches and moderated discussion with the audience
Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission
Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights Council of Europe
14.30 – 15.50
Panel
Panel: Bolstering Strong Institutions, Civic Space and Human Rights, in a Context of War and Securitization in Europe
NHRI leaders:
- Beate Rudolf, Director German Institute for Human Rights
- Dmytro Lubinets, Commissioner for Human Rights Ukraine
Regional counterparts:
- Elena Kountouri Tapiero, Acting Regional Representative for Europe, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Regional Office for Europe
- Nils Muižnieks, Director Europe, Amnesty International
- Rick Lawson, Vice-Chair Management Board, EU Fundamental Rights Agency
Interactive Discussion with the Audience
15.50 – 16.20
Break
16.20 – 17.50
Panel
Addressing emerging human rights challenges, including in the context of digitalization, artificial intelligence and climate change
NHRI leaders:
- Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
- Peter Svetina, Human Rights Ombudsman Slovenia
Regional counterparts:
- Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
- Christophe Poirel, Director Human Rights, Council of Europe
- Francesca Fanucci, Senior Legal Advisor, European Center for Non-Profit Law
Interactive Discussion with the Audience
17.50 – 18.00
Concluding remarks
Debbie Kohner, ENNHRI Secretary-General
18.00 – 19.00
Celebratory Reception with Speeches
Alan Miller, initial ENNHRI Chair, former Chair of Scottish NHRI
Lora Vidović, second ENNHRI Chair, former Ombudswoman of Croatia
More on TENNHRI
A new webpage tells our 10th anniversary story and allows you to experience the common journey of ENNHRI and NHRIs. Discover:
-
- How ENNHRI and the European NHRI family has grown over the last 10 years;
- Testimonies from NHRIs on how ENNHRI membership has positively impacted them;
- Key achievements of ENNHRI’s Working Groups and how they are joining forces for common action;
- Three rousing stories of how NHRIS are collaborating to drive positive human rights change.
- Milestones where NHRIs have set themselves apart and been recognised as key European human rights actors
- Our vision for the future and how we can maximise NHRIs’ ability to promote and protect human rights by working together.
Since 2013, we have 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 video captures what being part of ENNHRI means for its member NHRIs and their work.
As a diverse network, ENNHRI represents something slightly different 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.
