Overview:
The Danish Institute for Human Rights is an independent state-funded institution. Our mandate is to promote and protect human rights and equal treatment in Denmark and abroad. We are Denmark’s national human rights institution. We are also a national equality body in relation to race, ethnicity and gender. We have a special role in the disability area where we promote and monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Brief history
In 1987, the Danish Parliament established the Danish Centre for Human Rights, which was renamed as the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) in 2002. The Institute is Denmark’s NHRI (National Human Rights Institute), and as such has counterpart NHRI’s in other countries.
DIHR has been the appointed National Equality Body in relation to race and ethnicity (since 2003) and in relation to gender (since 2011). Furthermore, in July 2009, Denmark ratified the CRPD and the Danish Institute for Human Rights was appointed by the Danish Parliament to promote and monitor the implementation of the CRPD in Denmark.
Mandate Type
Predominantly promotion-type and legal support body
Litigation power:
- Bringing proceedings in own name
- The Danish Institute for Human Rights can file a complaint on behalf of complainants before the National Board of Equal Treatment. Furthermore, since 2016, the DIHR has been authorized to file independent complaints in cases of principal matter.
Activities
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities aimed at supporting vulnerable groups ( e.g. through trainings ) | |||||||||||
| Activities aimed at supporting duty bearers such as employers and service providers (e.g. through trainings, guidance material, practical support, etc.) | |||||||||||
| Communication activities (e.g. awareness raising campaigns) | |||||||||||
| Recommendations on discrimination issues | |||||||||||
| Publications and reports | |||||||||||
| Research projects (including surveys) |
Our institution has a mandate to deal with:
- Violence against women
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Hate crime
- Hate speech
- Since we are a National Human Rigths Institution (NHRI) we have the mandate to cover all human rights.
Other statistics:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of inquiries handled per year (all contact even if not resulting in a formal complaint) | 246 | 415 | 346 | 501 | 349 | 354 | |||||
| Number of cases handled per year (case files opened and processed according to your procedures) | 20 | 17 | 44 | 78 | 45 | 32 | |||||
| Number of media appearances per year (major newspapers/magazines/websites/blogs, TV + radio channels) - does not include social media | 0 | 0 | 1168 | 2026 | 2539 | 3779 |
Management
- Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
Management details
The management of the Danish Institute for Human Rights consists of one Executive Director and two Deputy Executive Directors, one Department Director and one Head of Communications. In addition, the management consists of six heads of department, serving each of their human rights fields.
Additional details
The Institute is divided into two departments – a national and an international department. The research, administration and communication departments are separate entities outside of the two departments.
Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board
The Institute is managed by a Board of Directors.The Board is the supreme controlling body of the Danish Institute for Human Rights and lays down the general guidelines as well as the policy for the Institute’s activities. Furthermore, it appoints the Institute’s Director.
The Board is composed of 14 members, appointed by bodies such as the Council for Human Rights and the Danish universities.
6 members are appointed by the rectors of the Danish Universities
6 members are appointed by the Danish Council for Human Rights
1 member is appointed by the Human Rights Council of Greenland
1 member is appointed by the employees of DIHR
Number of staff dealing with equality issues
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body
| Grounds / Fields | Employment | Education | Housing | Social Protection & Healthcare | Goods and Services | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||||
| Gender Identity | ||||||
| Race and Ethnic Origin | ||||||
| Age | ||||||
| Disability | ||||||
| Sexual Orientation | ||||||
| Religion & Belief |
Mandate covers:
- Public sector
- Private sector
Operating budget in euros
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13580000 | 15260000 | 16460000 | 16822000 | 17878000 | 18560000 |
Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions)
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1340000 | 1340000 | 1340000 | 1340000 | 1340000 | 1340000 |
We are accountable to
- National Parliament
Full name in English
Danish Institute for Human RightsFull name in the national language(s):
Institut for MenneskerettighederPostal address
Wilders Plads 8K 1403 Copenhagen K DK - DENMARK