State of the rule of law in Europe – 2022

Reports from National Human Rights Institutions

About the report

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), as independent, state-mandated bodies with a broad human rights mandate, play a key role for the respect of human rights, democracy and rule of law. Their joint reporting helps to make a comprehensive assessment of the level of respect for the rule of law at national level and contributes to efforts by national and regional actors to address rule of law challenges in the region.

Key recommendations

Ensure NHRIs compliant with the Paris Principles and an enabling environment for them, with a strong mandate and adequate resources and cooperation. 

Enhance accountability, including through more effective judicial reviews, consultations and human rights impact assessmentsinvolve NHRIs! 

Ensure fair appointments and proper administration of justice. 

Improve access to justice, including for vulnerable groups.  

Strengthen frameworks to prevent and fight corruption, including stronger anti-corruption bodies and better whistleblower protection. 

Provide a supportive framework for HRDs that also ensures participation and funding.  

Protect HRDs from attacks, including abusive lawsuits. 

Ensure freedom of expression, access to information, and the protection of journalists.   

Ensure legality and democratic oversight of measures, paying particular attention to impacts on vulnerable groups and inputs from NHRIs and other HRDs. 

Secure timely implementation of regional court judgments and recommendations from human rights bodies, including NHRIs.

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ALBANIA • ANDORRA • ARMENIA • AUSTRIA • AZERBAIJAN • BELARUS • BELGIUM • BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA • BULGARIA • CROATIA • CYPRUS • CZECH REPUBLIC • DENMARK • ESTONIA • FINLAND • FRANCE • GEORGIA • GERMANY • GREAT BRITAIN • GREECE • HUNGARY • ICELAND • IRELAND • ITALY • KOSOVO* • LATVIA • LIECHTENSTEIN • LITHUANIA • LUXEMBOURG • MALTA • MOLDOVA • MONACO • MONTENEGRO • NETHERLANDS • NORTH MACEDONIA • NORTHERN IRELAND • NORWAY • POLAND • PORTUGAL • ROMANIA • RUSSIAN FEDERATION • SAN MARINO • SCOTLAND • SERBIA • SLOVAKIA • SLOVENIA • SPAIN • SWEDEN • SWITZERLAND • TURKEY • UKRAINE