Activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Dialogue with governments and country visits
The Commissioner seeks to engage in permanent dialogue with Council of
Europe member states and conducts official country missions for a
comprehensive evaluation of the human rights situation. The missions
typically include meetings with the highest representatives of government,
parliament, the judiciary, as well as leading members of human rights
protection institutions and the civil society. The Commissioner’s reports
contain both an analysis of human rights practices and detailed
recommendations about possible ways of improvement. The reports are
published and widely
circulated in the policy-making and NGO community as well as the media.
A few years after the official visit to a country, the Commissioner or his
Office carries out a follow-up visit to assess the progress made in
implementing the recommendations. The Commissioner subsequently issues a
follow-up report, which is also widely publicised. Last but not least, the
Commissioner conducts contact visits to countries or regions in order to
strengthen relations with the authorities and to examine one or a number of
problem areas, albeit without issuing general reports.
Thematic recommendations and awareness-raising
The Commissioner for Human Rights is also mandated to provide advice and
information on the protection of human rights and the prevention of human
rights violations. When the Commissioner considers it appropriate, his
Office issues recommendations regarding a specific human rights issue in a
single member state (or several). Either on the request of national bodies
or on his own initiative, the Commissioner may also give opinions on draft
laws and specific practices.
The Commissioner is further mandated to promote
awareness of human rights in Council of Europe member states. To this end,
the Commissioner’s Office organises and co-organises seminars and events on
various human rights themes, and seeks to engage in permanent dialogue with
governments, civil society organisations and educational institutions in
order to improve the publics’ awareness of Council of Europe human rights
standards.
Promoting the development of national human rights structures
The Commissioner closely cooperates with national Ombudsmen, National
Human Rights Institutions and other structures entrusted to protect human
rights. The Commissioner also maintains close working relations with the
European Union’s Ombudsman and organises biennial roundtables with the
Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions of Council of Europe member
states. In countries where these do not exist or are not fully developed,
the Commissioner strongly supports their establishment and effective
operation.
Contact
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
FRANCE
 + 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
 + 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53
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foster
the effective observance of human rights, and assist member states in the
implementation of Council of Europe human rights standards;