Danish Institute for Human Rights

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.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Legal standing before the courts

Bringing proceedings in the name of the equality body [with or without an identifiable victim], Intervention in support of a party

Functions

• Undertaking ex-officio investigations
• Advising government on the development, adoption and amendment of law and policy
• Monitoring national law and policy from an equality perspective
• Carrying out specialist research on equality and non-discrimination
• Reporting to national and international bodies on discrimination issues
• Networking with relevant entities in the country and internationally

Fields and grounds

Other mandates of the institution

Multi-mandate equality body

National human rights institution, NPM under National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, Designated as independent mechanism under UN CRPD Article 33(2)

Institution

Management and Appointments

Management

Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

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. The Institute is divided into two departments – a national and an international department. The administration and communication teams are two 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

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Parliament