Strasbourg, 31/05/2012 – Effective protection of human rights at national level requires good laws and efficient judiciaries – but also strong, independent national human rights structures (NHRSs). This need is especially evident in times of crisis and austerity, says Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his first Human Rights Comment published today.

NHRSs – independent commissions, general or specialised ombudsmen, equality bodies, police complaints mechanisms and similar institutions – protect human rights for everybody, but they are particularly important to the most vulnerable groups. They provide an easily accessible helping hand to children, older persons, people with disabilities, Roma, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees. Due to a general deterioration of the human rights situation caused by the economic crisis, many NHRSs receive more complaints to handle.

Regrettably, many NHRSs have seen their operational capacities curtailed through severe budget and staff cuts, the closure of regional offices, or the merger of various bodies into overarching structures that are not as focussed or accessible as the bodies they have replaced. It is therefore necessary that Governments, particularly in countries undergoing serious austerity, involve NHRSs at all stages of the budget process. (more...)

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Podcast: Nils Muižnieks – My first 60 days as Commissioner for Human Rights