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13
December
2022

December 2022 update - NHRI accreditation status and mandates

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) continue to play a key role in upholding fundamental rights. FRA keeps track of the accreditation status and the mandates of the NHRIs. In 2022, the NHRI in Cyprus was upgraded to an ‘A-status’ institution. In addition, the mandates of six NHRIs changed to include child protection or the protection of LGBTI people.
Overview

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) continue to play a key role in upholding fundamental rights. FRA keeps track of the accreditation status and the mandates of the NHRIs. In 2022, the NHRI in Cyprus was upgraded to an ‘A-status’ institution. In addition, the mandates of six NHRIs changed to include child protection or the protection of LGBTI people.

Accreditation status
Country Name of Institution Accreditation status
Austria Austrian Ombudsman Board A-status
Belgium Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (FIRM) Institution not accredited - seeking first-time accreditation, SCA will look into it in March 2023
Belgium Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunity and the fight against racism and discrimination (Unia) B-status
Bulgaria Commission for protection against discrimination B-status
Bulgaria Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria A-status
Croatia Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia A-status
Cyprus Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights A-status
Czechia Public Defender of Rights Institution not accredited
Denmark Danish Institute for Human Rights A-status
Estonia Chancellor of Justice A-status
Finland Finnish Human Rights Centre A-status
Finland Parliamentary Ombudsman A-status
France National Consultative Commission on Human Rights A-status
Germany German Institute for Human Rights A-status
Greece Greek National Commission for Human Rights A-status
Hungary Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights B-status
Ireland Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission A-status
Italy National Guarantor for the Rights of Persons Detained or Deprived of Liberty Institution not accredited
Latvia Ombuds institution’s Office of the Republic of Latvia A-status
Lithuania The Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office A-status
Luxembourg Consultative Human Rights Commission of Luxembourg A-status
Malta Human Rights and Equality Commission1 Institution not accredited
Netherlands Netherlands Institute for Human Rights A-status
Poland Commissioner for Human Rights A-status
Portugal Portuguese Ombudsman A-status
Romania People’s Advocate Institution not accredited - Applied for accreditation
Romania Romanian Institute for Human Rights Institution not accredited - Applied for accreditation
Slovakia Slovak National Centre for Human Rights B-status
Slovenia The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia A-status
Spain Ombuds institution of Spain A-status
Sweden Equality Ombudsman B-status
Sweden Institute for Human Rights Institution not accredited
     
Albania People's Advocate of the Republic of Albania A-status
North Macedonia Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia B-status
Serbia Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia A-status (SCA will look into its regular reaccreditation in March 2023)

Notes:

Cells with a yellow background colour highlight changes since since the September 2021 update to the the 2020 report 'Strong and effective national human rights institutions - challenges, promising practices and opportunities'.

The Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill setting up the Human Rights and Equality Commission in Malta has not been adopted yet by the Maltese Parliament. See Malta, Parliament, Bill No. 97 – Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill.

Source: FRA, December, 2022

Mandates
NHRI (or nearest equivalent) Mandates
  Promotion and protection of human rights Ombuds institutions with a mandate on maladministration National preventive mechanisms under OPCAT National monitoring mechanisms under CRPD Equality bodies with a mandate on equal treatment Monitoring of forced returns (EU Returns Directive) Reporting on trafficking in human beings (EU directive) Protecting freedom of movement and mobility rights in the EU Other mandates1
Austrian Ombudsman Board        
Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (FIRM) (Belgium)                
Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunity and the fight against racism and discrimination (Unia) (Belgium)        
Commission for protection against discrimination (Bulgaria)        
Ombudsman of the
Republic of Bulgaria
   
Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia        
Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Cyprus)    
Public Defender of Rights (Czechia)    
Danish Institute for Human Rights          
Chancellor of Justice (Estonia)      
Finnish Human Rights Centre            
Parliamentary Ombudsman (Finland)          
National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (France)          
German Institute for Human Rights            
Greek National Commission for Human Rights              
Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (Hungary)          
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission      
National Guarantor for the Rights of Persons Detained or Deprived of Liberty (Italy)              
Ombuds institution’s Office of the Republic of Latvia    
The Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office (Lithuania)        
Consultative Human Rights Commission of Luxembourg            
Human Rights and Equality Commission (Malta)                  
Netherlands Institute for Human Rights            
Commissioner for Human Rights (Poland)        
Portuguese Ombudsman        
People’s Advocate (Romania)              
Romanian Institute for Human Rights                
Slovak National Centre for Human Rights              
The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia            
Ombuds institution of Spain        
Equality Ombudsman (Sweden)              
Institute for Human Rights (Sweden)            
                   
People's Advocate
of the Republic of Albania
Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia      
Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia    

Notes:

1 Other mandates are spelled out in the table below. 

Cells with a yellow background colour highlight changes since the since the June 2022 update to the 2020 report 'Strong and effective national human rights institutions - challenges, promising practices and opportunities'.

Source: FRA, December, 2022

Other mandates

 
NHRI (or nearest equivalent) Other mandates
  Rights of the child Freedom of information Standing in front of constitutional court for review of legislation Other Mandates
Austrian Ombudsman Board       Establishing and chairing the Pension Committee under the Pensions for Victims of Children`s Homes Act
Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunity and the fight against racism and discrimination (Unia) (Belgium)       National mechanism under CERD
Commission for protection against discrimination (Bulgaria)       Hate crime
Ombudsman of the
Republic of Bulgaria
   
Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia     External channel for the reporting of irregularities under the Act on the Protection of Persons Who Report Irregularities
Public Defender of Rights (Czechia)      
Chancellor of Justice (Estonia)    
Finnish Human Rights Centre       Corporate responsibility
National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (France)       Corporate responsibility: LGBTI Rights; National commission for the implementation of international humanitarian law
Greek National Commission for Human Rights       Member of the National Council against Racism and Intolerance, of the National Accessibility Authority, of the Special Committee for the Compliance with Fundamental Rights at the Ministry for Migration and Asylum, of the Monitoring Committee for the national programmes of EU migration funds; Compliance of national development programs with EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (Hungary)  
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission     Hate crime
Ombuds institution’s Office of the Republic of Latvia      
Portuguese Ombudsman     Member of the Portuguese Council of state
Institute for Human Rights (Sweden)      
         
People's Advocate
of the Republic of Albania
     
Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia      
Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia