ENNHRI recently participated as an observer at the 101st meeting of the Council of Europe (CoE) Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in Strasbourg. Through its involvement in key negotiations on civil society space and environmental rights, ENNHRI reiterated and advanced proposals to enhance human rights protections across Council of Europe Member states. This included the need for a binding instrument on the right to a healthy environment and further protection for civil society and human rights defenders.

CDDH approves feasibility report on human rights and the environment

Following over two days of intergovernmental negotiations, CDDH representatives approved the CDDH report on the need for and feasibility of a further instrument or instruments on human rights and the environment. The report is the outcome of intense work from the CDDH Working Group on Human Rights and Environment. ENNHRI actively participated through its members. The report outlines the advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to recognising this right across CoE Member states. The report is now set to be discussed by the Committee of Ministers in May 2025.

During its intervention, ENNHRI reiterated the need for CoE Member states to adopt a binding instrument on the right to a healthy environment. As highlighted in its recent statement, ENNHRI emphasised how adopting an Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (the Court) offers the strongest protection of this right and with it the rights of all 675 million citizens living in the CoE region.

CDDH report on implementation of the Council of Europe Recommendation on civil society space

In the context of increasing threats and challenges to civil society space and human rights defenders across Europe, the CDDH also approved its report on the state of the implementation of the 2018 Recommendation on the need to strengthen the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe. This recommendation urges Member states to undertake measures ensuring that all rights defenders, including NHRIs and civil society organisations, can operate safely and effectively.

ENNHRI welcomes that in its report the CDDH recognises key work of NHRIs in the monitoring of civil society space and the protection of HRDs. Positively, CDDH representatives agreed on the need for further exchanges on civic space, the need to consider further action in this field and the need to pay special attention to the implementation of European Court on Human Rights.

Drawing from ENNHRI’s rule of law report findings and a recent outcome report on NHRIs role in protecting HRDs, ENNHRI provided detailed input during the consultation process.  In its submission to the report, ENNHRI welcomed the CDDH report and reiterated the need to further prioritise the strengthening of the protection of civic space and rights defenders. Specific recommendations advanced by ENNHRI include the need to establish and strengthen comprehensive national and regional protection systems for human rights defenders and to ensure that Member states actively support NHRIs in their critical role as protection mechanisms.

More on ENNHRI’s work

Read ENNHRI’s updated statement calling for a Council of Europe binding instrument on the right to a healthy environment. Learn more on ENNHRI’s work on human rights and climate change.

Read about ENNHRI’s rule of law regional and country analysis in ENNHRI’s new tool. This allows users to compare and browse all findings from this and previous years.

Read ENNHRI’s submission on the implementation of the 2018 Recommendation on the need to strengthen the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe.