The Committee of Ministers has adopted a Recommendation to its member States on the development and strengthening of effective, pluralist and independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs).
Such institutions are among the pillars of respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy. They are an important link between government and civil society, insofar as they help bridge the potential protection gap between the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of the State.
However, NHRIs and their members and staff are at times exposed to challenging working conditions, threats, pressures, and attacks.
The Recommendation aims at ensuring that these institutions are established and governed in accordance with the minimum standards set out in the Paris Principles, in particular as regards their terms of reference and competence to promote and protect all human rights for everyone and their autonomy from government.