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(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 31 March 2021 |
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, under the terms of Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe (ETS No. 1),
Considering that effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs) are among the pillars of respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy;
Recognising that a NHRI is a State-mandated body, independent from the government, with a broad constitutional or legislative mandate to promote and protect human rights and accredited on a regular basis according to its compliance with the Paris Principles;[1]
Recalling that NHRIs are human rights defenders and that they contribute to the promotion and protection of other human rights defenders and to a safe and enabling space for civil society;
Recalling also the Committee of Ministers’ Decision “A shared responsibility for democratic security in Europe – The need to strengthen the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe” (Helsinki, 17 May 2019) to further strengthen the Council of Europe’s mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, including the Secretary General’s Revised Private Office procedure on human rights defenders interacting with the Council of Europe;
Recognising that effective NHRIs are an important link between government and civil society, insofar as they help bridge thepotential protection gap between the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of the State;
Welcoming the significant increase in the number of accredited[2] independent NHRIs[3] in Council of Europe member States since the adoption of Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation Rec(97)14 on the establishment of independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights;
Underlining the great potential and impact of independent NHRIs for the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe, in particular for the effective implementation of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 5, the Convention) including third party intervention before the European Court of Human Rights (on the basis of the Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Convention) and communication with regard to the supervision of the execution of judgments under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention;
Acknowledging the importance of continued support by the Council of Europe and other international stakeholders to NHRIs and welcoming the well-established co-operation between the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and NHRIs, as well as the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), as foreseen in the Commissioner’s mandate under Resolution Res(99)50 on the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;
Acknowledging further the importance of the co-operation between NHRIs and ENNHRI, and of their co-operation with the Council of Europe[4] and other national and international stakeholders;
Bearing in mind the broad international support for the development, strengthening, protection and recognition of and co-operation with NHRIs, Դիտումներ: 1
