European Network of National Human Rights Institutions

We’re thrilled to have contributed to this vital European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) guidance 📃 . It clearly outlines how EU Member States should set and designate independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure fundamental rights compliance during border screening and asylum procedures. In late September, our Working Group on Asylum and Migration exchanged 🗣 with FRA on this guidance and NHRIs’ vital role in upholding the #humanrights of migrants at borders under the EU’s new Asylum and Migration Pact. As part of the Pact, Member States are obligated to ensure that #NHRIs are involved in operating the independent monitoring mechanisms and can be appointed to carry out part or all of the tasks foreseen. This aligns with our 2021 opinion on independent monitoring mechanisms at borders ✅ .   We welcome the recommendations in the guidance, particularly the emphasis on ensuring effective safeguards for independence and effective functioning and the need for adequate and independent funding of the mechanism. We look forward to continuing our collaboration 🤝 with FRA in this area to guarantee strong and effective standards for independent monitoring mechanisms in order to ensure human rights accountability at the borders. 👀 Read our previous Opinion on Independent Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms at Borders under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum ➡ https://lnkd.in/e7ZpSpaK Learn more about our work on asylum and migration ➡ https://lnkd.in/ejmUiR-C

📰 Currently, the #humanrights of older persons are inadequately protected and scattered across different legal instruments. We urgently need a dedicated, binding instrument in this area. That’s why on this year’s #InternationalDayofOlderPersons, we reiterate our call for a dedicated UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. ⚖ This would offer the legal protection that has been lacking for so long. 📢 In recent years, European #NHRIs have advocated intensively for this through our Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons. Their engagement, including in the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, has contributed to the positive momentum in this area. Collectively and individually, they’ll continue pushing for this essential binding instrument. 🔎 Read more about ENNHRI's work, including that of our Working Group, to promote and protect the rights of older persons ➡ https://lnkd.in/eFCzUj9c

💡 Here's a reminder to stay updated and sign up to our #newsletter. 📰 The third issue of 2024 is coming out soon.💥 There you will find more about the current agenda on #HumanRights. We also share our latest publications and events. 📆 Subscribe ✏ and take a look at previous editions here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dh-Sj75p. Stay tuned.⏰

This week ENNHRI’s Working Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) gathered for the first time in person. 🤝 Over two days in Brussels, representatives from over 20 #NHRIs reflected on strengthening their work on #AI and human rights. 💡 📌 With the promotion and protection of human rights always at the forefront, they delved into regional AI policy developments; NHRIs’ future roles in relation to this; and fundamental rights impact assessments (FRIAs).   The major points to emerge among the group were: ➡ Although European NHRIs are at different stages in their engagement with AI, many are already playing a key role in promoting and protecting human rights in the digital age. ➡ Implementation of the EU’s AI Act and the Council of Europe’s AI Convention will require strong cooperation among different public authorities, including NHRIs. ➡ NHRIs can support the design, development and implementation of FRIAs and ensure they follow a human rights-based approach. We’d like to thank the multiple speakers and participants for joining and their insightful contributions. 🙌 Each person brought their own unique experience and expertise, creating an enriching environment for exchange and discussion. 🌐 💥 We can’t wait for the next steps – together in the Working Group and beyond - to ensure #humanrights is at the heart of AI policy and practice. Find out more about our work on AI ➡ https://lnkd.in/dS_Yyf3h

We’re thrilled to be among #NHRI representatives from across Europe and key partners in Chisinau this week. At a dedicated international conference, we’re considering together how to strengthen national human rights protection mechanisms, including #NHRIs, in the #EU and beyond. So, what must be done so NHRIs can fully realise their huge potential to advance #humanrights, #democracy and the #ruleoflaw? Discussing this on a panel session yesterday, Edyta Tuta-Lorenz - our Senior Human Rights Officer – said 🗣 : 📍 We need to ensure robust NHRI standards and strong compliance with these. Our 2023 baseline study on the Council of Europe Recommendation on NHRIs analysed the implementation of this landmark set of European NHRI standards. The EU has recognised NHRIs and supported their work, but their full potential remains untapped. To take the next step 👣 , ENNHRI is advocating for a dedicated European Commission Recommendation on NHRIs. This would clarify what EU Member States must do to ensure a strong and independent NHRI. 📍 We need to ensure NHRIs have a proper enabling environment. ENNHRI’s recent rule of law ⚖ report identified key ways to achieve this. These include involving NHRIs in meaningful consultations on law- and policy-making and ensuring their access to relevant information. 📍 We need to ensure the meaningful participation of NHRIs at regional and national level. Building on the Reykjavik Declaration, there are clear opportunities to explore new avenues for NHRI cooperation 🤝 at the Council of Europe. In the EU context, NHRIs have a clear role to play in advancing human rights, democracy and rule of law aspects during the enlargement process. ENNHRI will continue collaborating closely with its key partners for strong, effective and independent NHRIs across #Europe. See our baseline study on the Council of Europe Recommendation on NHRIs ➡ https://lnkd.in/ewA87KJn Read more about our proposal for a dedicated EU Recommendation on NHRIs ➡ https://lnkd.in/e8sd3nG2 Explore all ENNHRI rule of law reports in our new tool ➡- https://lnkd.in/eqDnJ8Jw Later today we're speaking on a panel on NHRIs and responding to the emerging issues of digitalisation and AI. Find out more about our work on AI - https://lnkd.in/dS_Yyf3h

💡Our new scoping paper “Technologies, migration, and human rights: the role of European NHRIs” is out! It explores the role and use of new technologies in the context of asylum, migration and border governance. In doing so, it sheds light on their potential impacts on the #HumanRights of migrants and the essential role of #NHRIs in addressing these impacts. 📢 📑 Read it to discover more about: 📌 How technology is being used in areas ranging from forecasting #migration trends to digitalising international protection processes. 📌 Regional policy developments on artificial intelligence (AI), such as the European Union’s AI Act and the Council of Europe Convention on #AI, and how they are impacting migrants’ rights. 📌 The role and opportunities for NHRIs to tackle #HumanRights issues at the cross-section of technologies and migration. 💻 Download and read the scoping paper here ➡ https://lnkd.in/eqzWhzqy 🔎 Find out more about ENNHRI’s work on asylum and migration ➡ https://lnkd.in/ejmUiR-C Learn more about our work and engagement in the field of AI 📖 https://lnkd.in/dS_Yyf3h

On this #InternationalDayofDemocracy, we recall that respect for the rule of law is one of the foundations on which #democracy is built. With insights from #NHRIs Europe-wide, our recent report reveals the #RuleOfLaw ⚖ landscape across the continent. It also contains our key recommendations for what policymakers must do to ensure respect 🛡 for the rule of law. Discover the full report and findings in our dedicated tool, which also includes reports from previous years (2020-2024) 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqDnJ8Jw See our infographic illustrating our recommendations to policymakers 👉 https://lnkd.in/epXueXJZ

📣 We're hiring! 📍 Are you a creative communicator and full of bright ideas 💡 ? 📍 Do you want to gain experience working in #HumanRights for a #European network 🤝 ? Then apply 📝 to become our new Communications Trainee by 19 September ! Find full details and apply below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eFBXK6YV #JobAlert #HumanRightsJobs #Careers #Opportunities

💡 Great news is on the way. Here's a reminder to stay updated and sign up to our #newsletter. 📰 There you will find more about what we're doing and the most important activities on #HumanRights. We also share our latest publications and events. 📆 Subscribe ✏ and take a look on previous editions here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dh-Sj75p

We're delighted to have been able to support the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on this vital piece of work through our regranting programme 🙌 . Learn more on the #Business and #Humanrights Index below 👇 and this and the other eight #NHRI projects supported as part of the regranting programme ➡ https://lnkd.in/efy5ih7v