Human rights defenders (HRDS) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are under growing pressure across the European Union (EU). ENNHRI welcomes the EU’s Civil Society Strategy as an important step in protecting and supporting them at national and EU levels. In a new submission, ENNHRI sets out why National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are crucial to the future Strategy and its success. This also outlines key recommendations, among them the establishment of a dedicated EU protection mechanism for HRDs.

The importance of strong and independent NHRIs for the EU Civil Society Strategy

As independent public bodies with a broad human rights mandate, NHRIs are uniquely placed in the human rights landscape. This makes them essential to protecting, empowering and supporting CSOs and HRDs.

They do so in various ways. They act as bridge builders between CSOs and national authorities, while remaining independent of each. Leveraging their privileged access to national authorities and mandate, NHRIs advise and support authorities to comply with human rights standards. By promoting respect for the rule of law, they also promote a safe and enabling environment for civil society.

Recommendations to the European Commission

As rights defenders themselves, NHRIs face threats and challenges. To counter these and strengthen their role in protecting, supporting and empowering CSOs and other HRDs, ENNHRI calls for the Civil Society Strategy to recognise NHRIs as key (national) actors and ENNHRI as a regional partner in its implementation.

Building on this, ENNHRI’s submission to the Strategy is structured around three main pillars: protection of, participation and dialogue with, and support and resources for CSOs and HRDs in the EU.

Among ENNHRI’s key recommendations on these topics are to:

• Ensure a focus on establishing and supporting national HRD protection mechanisms in each EU Member State, including further support for the role of NHRIs, CSOs, and other HRDs.
• Establish a dedicated EU internal HRD protection mechanism which ensures early warning, registering of attacks, and effective responses to both, and also provides institutional avenues for HRDs to address relevant EU institutions directly.
• Support and facilitate more meaningful engagement and consultation with CSOs and HRDs in national and EU legal and policy-making processes, and recognise NHRIs’ role in facilitating this.
• Facilitate more meaningful fundamental rights impact assessments in policy and law-making, including through timely consultation with CSOs and HRDs, such as NHRIs.
• Commit to CSOs and HRDs (including NHRIs) having sustainable and inclusive access to EU funding that supports their role.

Wider EU policy to support and protect rights defenders

Several EU initiatives already recognise how NHRIs support and protect HRDs. These include the EU Charter Strategy and its annual implementation reports; the European Commission’s rule of law reporting; and 2023 Council Conclusions on civic space. Alongside the EU’s external guidelines on human rights defenders, these have sought to strengthen EU protection for HRDs.

ENNHRI encourages the Civil Society Strategy to build on such initiatives to ensure coherent and stronger protection for HRDs in the EU.

More information and background

Read ENNHRI’s  submission on the Civil Society Strategy.

Learn more about ENNHRI’s broader work on democracy, the rule of law and civic space.

See ENNHRI’s resource on human rights defenders.