Human rights

Local, national, regional and international human rights bodies

Apart from that you can also ask for legal aid provided by a concrete state agency.

Except that there is also a possibility to refer to the office of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. Among the responsibilities of the commissionaire are:

• “foster the effective observance of human rights, and assist member states in the implementation of Council of Europe's human rights standards;
• promote education in and awareness of human rights in Council of Europe member states;
• identify possible shortcomings in the law and practice concerning human rights;
• facilitate the activities of national ombudsperson institutions and other human rights structures; and
• provide advice and information regarding the protection of human rights across the region.”

Mandate of the Commissioner for Human Rights

Questions to reflect on

• Do you know any organisations or individuals who prepare reports on human rights in your country?
• Do you know any cases when your country was at the court in Strasbourg? If yes, what were they about and how were they concluded?
• How do the mechanisms mentioned above help ordinary people like us against the bad will of governments and elites?
• Can you think of who or what you would address if your human rights were violated?