High-Level Meeting
Council of Europe ‘Recommendation on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions’
26-27 April 2021 — Virtual Event
Council of Europe ‘Recommendation on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions’
The adoption by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers of the ‘Recommendation on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs)’ represents a milestone for further embedding NHRIs’ central role in the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe, including through effective cooperation with the Council of Europe.
This Public High-Level Meeting on 26 April will bring together heads of European NHRIs with Council of Europe key actors, including civil society organisations. It aims to explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation and support between the Council of Europe and NHRIs at national level, and for meaningful participation of NHRIs and ENNHRI in the Council of Europe, in follow-up of the adopted Recommendation.
NHRI heads will reconvene for an internal meeting on 27 April, to identify strategic priorities for NHRIs and ENNHRI in follow-up of the Recommendation, and to forge closer cooperation with the Council of Europe, for better promotion and protection of human rights across the region.
This event is co-organised by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the German Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The protection of human rights by the Council of Europe, including in cooperation with its member states’ NHRIs, is a priority of the German Presidency.
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Speakers and moderators
Caroline Fennell
ENNHRI Chair; Commissioner at Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Krista Oinonen
Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland; Chair of CDDH Drafting Group on Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions
Bärbel Kofler
Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, German Presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers
Lord Richard Balfe
Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Former rapporteur on PACE Resolution 2301 (2019)
Christophe Poirel
Director of Human Rights, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe
Antoine Buyse
Director of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM); Member of the Conference of INGOs, Council of Europe
Michael Windfuhr
Deputy Director of the German Institute for Human Rights
Robert Spano
President of the European Court of Human Rights
Dunja Mijatović
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
Iulia Antoanella Motoc
Judge of the European Court of Human Rights with respect to Romania
Karin Lukas
President of the European Committee of Social Rights, Council of Europe
Veronika BÃlková
Member of the Bureau of the Venice Commission, Council of Europe
Erinda Ballanca
People’s Advocate of Albania
Sigrid Jacoby
Representative of the German Federal Government for Matters Relating to Human Rights
Debbie Kohner
ENNHRI Secretary-General
Programme
26 April 2021 (10:00 – 13:30 CEST) – Public High-Level Meeting
10.00 – 10.05
Welcome
Caroline Fennell, ENNHRI Chair; Commissioner at Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
10.05 – 10.15
NHRI Recommendation’s Added Value and Potential
Krista Oinonen, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland; Chair of CDDH Drafting Group on Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions
10.15 – 11.50
From the Council of Europe’s Intergovernmental Processes to national implementation: cooperation with & support for NHRIs
Keynote Speech: Bärbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Moderated Roundtable:
Lord Richard Balfe, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Former rapporteur on PACE Resolution 2301 (2019)
Christophe Poirel, Director of Human Rights, Council of Europe
Antoine Buyse, Director of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM); member of the Conference of INGOs, Council of Europe
Bärbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Moderator: Michael Windfuhr, Deputy Director, German Institute for Human Rights
12.00 – 13.15
From the Council of Europe’s Independent Oversight to national implementation: cooperation with & support for NHRIs
Introductory Remarks: Róbert Spanó, President of the European Court of Human Rights (video message)
Moderated Roundtable:
Dunja Mijatović, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe
Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights with respect to Romania
Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights
Veronika BÃlková, Member of the Bureau of the Venice Commission, Council of Europe
Moderator: Erinda Ballanca, People’s Advocate of Albania
13.15 – 13.30
Closing remarks
Sigrid Jacoby, Representative of the German Federal Government for Matters Relating to Human Rights
Debbie Kohner, Secretary-General of ENNHRI
27 April 2021 (9:30 – 11:30 CEST) – Internal Meeting
9.30 – 9.35
Welcome
Prof Caroline Fennell, ENNHRI Chair
9.35 – 10.15
Strategic opportunities at Council of Europe mechanisms for NHRIs
NHRI heads/Secretariat
10.30 – 11.15
Strategic opportunities at national level for NHRIs
NHRI heads/Secretariat
11.15 – 11.30
Wrap-Up and Closing remarks
Debbie Kohner, Secretary-General of ENNHRI
Resources
Recommendation CM/Rec(2021)1 of the Committee of Ministers on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions
The text proposes strong Council of Europe recommendations to be addressed to Member States on the establishment and strengthening of European NHRIs, as well as cooperation with NHRIs. The recommendation text is a pivotal step for further recognition of NHRIs, helping to realise human rights across the region.
Online tool for NHRIs on ECtHR judgment implementation
This online tool includes NHRI good practices and numerous resources to support and guide NHRIs in their efforts to work on the execution of ECtHR judgments. The guidance was developed with support of the Council of Europe Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR, and in cooperation with the European Implementation Network.
Webinar Series: Effective Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
In 2020, we delivered a series of webinars on the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, aimed to inform and train NHRI representatives about the importance of implementation work and the ways to mainstream it across their organisations, to help improve the overall human rights situation in Europe.
Guidelines for NHRIs to support implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights
This guidance sets out how National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) can work towards state parties’ implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. It suggests a range of actions that NHRIs can take if a state fails to comply with a judgment of the Court, in order to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights throughout Europe.
NHRI Guide on Third Party Interventions before the European Court of Human Rights
The Guide captures information relevant for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to undertake Third Party Interventions before the Court, providing a resource to support NHRI staff in their advocacy and litigation activities.
Related articles
Towards a closer cooperation between NHRIs, ENNHRI, the Council of Europe and its Member States
On 26 April, ENNHRI and the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe held a High-Level Event bringing together representatives of NHRIs, Council of Europe, Member States’ governments and civil society. The meeting gathered over 240 participants, and represented a unique opportunity to identify strategic priorities, cooperation and support in the follow-up of the Council of Europe Recommendation on NHRIs.
Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopts Recommendation on developing and strengthening NHRIs
On 31 March 2021, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted the Recommendation on developing and strengthening NHRIs. The Recommendation acknowledges the role of NHRIs as pillars of the rule of law, human rights and democracy in Europe and recommends each Council of Europe Member State to establish, maintain and strengthen an independent NHRI in compliance with the Paris Principles.
Council of Europe drafting group proposes text for updated Recommendation on developing and strengthening NHRIs
On 4-6 March 2020, the Council of Europe’s CDDH Drafting Group on Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions (CDDH-INST) met to consider the update of the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). The Meeting Report includes a presentation by ENNHRI Secretary-General, Debbie Kohner (page 10).
European NHRIs submit input for review of Council of Europe Recommendation on NHRIs
On 6 February 2020, ENNHRI held a high-level consultation in Brussels on the Council of Europe’s review of its Committee of Ministers Recommendation on NHRIs. The consultation gathered representatives of 19 European NHRIs, Council of Europe actors and other stakeholders to explore how the Recommendation could enhance NHRIs’ promotion and protection of human rights. As an outcome, key recommendations were submitted to the Council of Europe.
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