National human rights institutions in the EU Member States (Strengthening the human rights architecture in the EU I)

Summary:

Human rights are first and foremost to be addressed at the national level. National human rights institutions (NHRIs) play an important role in the human rights architecture at the national level. This report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), is intended to identify gaps and concerns in the fundamental rights architecture in the European Union.

Background:

In light of the low levels of reporting of discrimination and low rights awareness documented in its EU-MIDIS survey results, the FRA has looked into the mechanisms of redress available to victims of human rights violations in the EU. Having been discussed and developed for 40 years, agreement over what a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) should look like was reached in 1993 with the adoption of the Paris Principles. The Principles, adopted by the UN General Assembly, stipulate the essential criteria for a body to qualify as an NHRI, covering issues of competence, independence, and effectiveness. The work of NHRIs is grounded in the idea that human rights violations can be most effectively addressed as close as possible to the victim - at national level - rather than only through international monitoring mechanisms.

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Official

FRA: Media Memo, 07/05/2010 http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Memo-NHRI-070510_en.pdf

FRA: Press Release, 07/05/2010: FRA: Fundamental rights protection bodies need more support http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/MR-07052010_en.pdf

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