National Human Rights Institutions

This publication is launched by the Danish Centre for Human Rights. It presents different general aspects relating to national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as comparative perspectives on the work of these institutions in the African, Asian, European and Latin American contexts.

The focus of the publication is on a number of key questions of relevance to both practitioners and analysts of institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights, relating to the role and functioning of the national institutions, viewed from a practical as well as a theoretical angle.
The analyses relate to various challenges, e.g. how to ensure the integrity, independence and effectiveness of the institutions through the constitution and enabling legislation. This include adopting appropriate procedures for the appointment of leading members of the institution, outlining its jurisdiction, and establishing the quasi-judicial function related to complaints handling.

In addition to individual case studies, a comparative overview of the activities and achievements of the individual institutions is included.
2nd reprint 2005