Legal source(s)

• n/a

Human rights capacity support

Functions

• Focuses on defending and promoting democratic values, the rule of law, a robust civil society, the right to asylum and international protection for refugees and stateless persons, and the rights to be free from torture or inhuman treatment and punishment and to be tried in a fair criminal justice system.

Specific mandates

Structured cooperation with partners at national level

• Until 2017, the HHC had formal agreements with various national authorities to monitor human rights conditions in prisons, police custody cells, immigration detention centres and asylum facilities.
• It participated as part of a border monitoring agreement with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and border authorities. These agreements were unilaterally terminated by the government in 2017.

Structured cooperation with partners at international and EU level

• Regularly consulted by relevant Members of the European Parliament, European Parliament committees (e.g. the Frontex Scrutiny Working Group of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE Committee)) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (e.g. the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons).