National Human Rights Institutions in Europe: Comparative, European and International Perspectives

Over the past twenty years, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have moved from the periphery to the centre of the human rights debate. The potential of NHRIs to transmit and implement international norms at the domestic level, and to transfer human rights expertise to regional and global human rights fora, is increasingly recognised. In Europe, the continent with the widest variety and density of human rights protection mechanisms, NHRIs are also gradually gaining recognition as actors that can enable more comprehensive and effective human rights promotion and protection.

This book, the result of a COST conference held in Leuven in April 2012, focuses on the functioning and role of NHRIs in Europe in a comparative, European and international perspective. At a time when the European Union is looking for a more coherent and strategic human rights policy, it is important that policy makers and academics pay more attention to the potential role of NHRIs. By bringing together contributions from academics and practitioners, this volume offers insights into the opportunities and challenges that accompany the increasing emergence of NHRIs in Europe and their proliferation on the multiple levels of human rights promotion and protection. Accordingly, this volume aims to inform and further trigger the NHRI debate in Europe.

About the authors
Jan Wouters is Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance, Professor of International Law and International Organisations and Director of the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and Institute for International Law at the University of Leuven.

Katrien Meuwissen is Research Fellow at the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and Institute for International Law at the University of Leuven.

Contents:
+ National Human Rights Institutions in Europe: An Introduction

+ National Human Rights Institutions in Europe: Comparative, European and International Perspectives

+ PART I. COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES

++ The Danish experience: The Danish Institute for Human Rights

++ NHRI in Poland: As good as it gets?

++ The Newly Established Netherlands Institute for Human Rights: Integrating Human Rights and Equal Treatment

++ Federalism, Equality Bodies and NHRIs: A Critical Analysis of the Belgian Debate On Equality Bodies and NHRIs

+ PART II. EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES

++ NHRI and their European Counterparts: Scope for Strengthened Cooperation and Performance towards European Human Rights Institutions

++ (Future) interaction between Data Protection Authorities and National Human Rights Institutions in the European Union

++ The Court’s Ears and Arms: National Human Rights Institutions and the European Court of Human Rights

++ The European Union and National Human Rights Institutions

+ PART III. INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

++ The Role and Functioning of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions in International Human Rights Bodies

++ Compliance with the Paris Principles and the ICC Sub‑Committee on Accreditation

++ NHRI participation to United Nations human rights procedures: international promotion Versus Institutional consolidation?

++ OHCHR Regional Representative for Europe: Perspectives on the Need for National Human Rights Institutions in Europe and the World

++ Conclusion: Towards a Better Understanding of European NHRIs in a Multi‑Layered Human Rights System