European Group of NHRIs
IHRC President Dr Maurice Manning addressing delegates at the Biennial NHRI Conference, Scottish Parliament, October 2010 Credit Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament. Copyright 2010 Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body The European Group of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) consists of 34 NHRIs from 32 countries across Europe and meets regularly to discuss issues of mutual concern. In 2009, it agreed a two year Strategic Plan. The IHRC chaired the Group from 2006 to 2011. It is currently chaired by the Scottish Human Rights Commission.
The European Group is one of the 4 Regional Groups of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs. It interacts with the regional human rights mechanisms in Europe including, the Council of Europe, the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), which issued a report on NHRIs in the EU on 7 May 2010. It also works with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).