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29
June
2022

June 2022 update - NHRI accreditation status and mandates

Since September 2021, two National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) had a change in their accreditation status, one applied for accreditation and five have had a change in tasks covered by their mandates. This new 2022 update provides an overview of developments in the accreditation status and mandates of NHRIs from September 2021 to May 2022. It is a follow up of FRA’s 2020 report on ‘Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities’ and the September 2021 update. It covers the 27 EU Member States and three candidate countries (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia).
Overview

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play a crucial role in the protection and promotion of human rights on the national level. Their mandate focuses on addressing human rights issues nationally, but they also ensure links to regional and international human rights protection mechanisms. NHRIs raise awareness, provide advice, undertake monitoring and hold authorities to account with the aim of promoting respect for and upholding of fundamental rights. The tables in the two tabs in this section provide an update of data in the following 2 areas:

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 yet accredited - Applied for accreditation
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 B-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

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, June, 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 Number of mandates per NHRI
Austrian Ombusman Board         5
Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (FIRM) (Belgium)                 1
Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunity and the fight against racism and discrimination (Unia) (Belgium)         5
Commission for protection against discrimination (Bulgaria)         5
Ombudsman of the
Republic of Bulgaria
    ✔✔ 8
Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia         5
Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights (Cyprus)       6
Public Defender of Rights (Czechia)     7
Danish Institute for Human Rights           4
Chancellor of Justice (Estonia)       ✔✔ 7
Finnish Human Rights Centre             3
Parliamentary Ombudsman (Finland)           4
National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (France)           ✔✔ 5
German Institute for Human Rights               2
Greek National Commission for Human Rights                 1
Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (Hungary)           ✔✔✔ 6
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission       7
National Guarantor for the Rights of Persons Detained or Deprived of Liberty (Italy)               2
Ombuds institution’s Office of the Republic of Latvia       6
The Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office (Lithuania)             3
Consultative Human Rights Commission of Luxembourg             3
Human Rights and Equality Commission (Malta)                   0
Netherlands Institute for Human Rights             3
Commissioner for Human Rights (Poland)         5
Portuguese Ombudsman         ✔✔ 6
People’s Advocate (Romania)               2
Romanian Institute for Human Rights                 1
Slovak National Centre for Human Rights               2
The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia             3
Ombuds institution of Spain         5
Equality Ombudsman (Sweden)               2
Institute for Human Rights (Sweden)             3
                     
People's Advocate
of the Republic of Albania
9
Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia       6
Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia     7
NHRIs per mandate 32 16 20 23 15 7 6 6 24  

Notes:

1 Other mandates are spelled out in the table below. 

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

Source: FRA, June, 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
Austrian Ombusman Board       Member of the Austrian Pension commission
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      
Public Defender of Rights (Czechia)      
Chancellor of Justice (Estonia)    
Finnish Human Rights Centre       Corporate responsibility
National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (France)       Corporate responsibility
International humanitarian law
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