Human Rights House Foundation STI

EU Legislative Interests

In close partnership with the Network of Human Rights Houses, HRHF advocates at international intergovernmental level to advance and protect fundamental rights that underpin independent civil society and make it possible to hold institutions and individuals accountable. HRHF advocates for inclusion and active participation of civil society, reports on human rights trends, and works to strengthen international human rights mechanisms and standards in order to influence the situation at the national level. The mission of HRHF in Brussels is to carry out advocacy vis-à-vis the European institutions and EU Member States on specific countries based on its countries priorities developed through national advocacy strategies with the Human Rights Houses and their NGOs. HRHF aims at holding the EU up to strong human rights standards especially with regard to policies towards its Eastern neighbours, as well as towards EU member States, including by establishing regular contacts with MEPs. The main aim of HRHF’s presence in Brussels is to facilitate the advocacy work of the NGOs members of the network of Human Rights Houses. HRHF supports their activities by organising advocacy visits in Brussels and assists their work by responding to inquiries on EU-related matters. HRHF also works with its members in establishing long-term advocacy objectives and plans, including by using the European Union when relevant, but not exclusively. Key policies targeted include freedom of expression, assembly and association, rule of law, human rights defenders, and human rights related policies on country priorities (mostly Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and the Western Balkans).

Communication Activities

Campaigns, submissions, and events around: EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. EU guidelines on HRDs. European Media Freedom Act. Anti-SLAPP EU-Directive. European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). EU-Russia strategic policy. Ukraine Support. EU human rights dialogues and EaP association agreements. Mobility and Visa for HRDs. Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI).

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

– Member of Human Rights House Oslo Human Rights House Foundation is one of the members of the Norwegian Human Rights House in Oslo. The Human Rights House in Oslo was opened in 1989 and was the first house in the Network. It currently hosts seven member organisations all working with various forms of human rights monitoring, reporting, advocacy and capacity building both nationally and internationally. – Member of the Human Rights and Democracy Network (HRDN). Human Rights and Democracy Network is an informal grouping of NGOs operating at the EU level in the broader areas of human rights, democracy and peace. Human Rights and Democracy Network’s vision is that human rights and democracy are placed at the heart of the EU's internal and external policy agenda. This vision should manifest itself in an EU which effectively protects human rights at home and is a force for positive change in the world. – Member of Civic Solidarity Platform Human Rights House Foundation has participated in establishing the Civic Solidarity Platform and is now one of its members. The Civic Solidarity Platform functions as a decentralized advocacy network of independent civic groups from across the OSCE region, including a core group of activists that have already engaged in efforts to improve cooperation among human rights organizations based in the US, Europe, and former Soviet Union. – South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders Human Rights House Foundation is the international partner of the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders, established around the Human Rights Houses of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and today uniting 30 independent human rights NGOs from the three South Caucasus countries (10 from each country). – Western Balkans Network of Human Rights Defenders Human Rights House Foundation is the international partner of the emerging Western Balkans Network of Human Rights Defenders, established by the Human Rights Houses of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. – Member of International Partnership Group on Azerbaijan (IPGA) Human Rights House Foundation is a member of the International Partnership Group on Azerbaijan (IPGA). IPGA is a coalition of international organisations working to promote and protect freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. – Member of the Norwegian NGO Forum for Human Rights Human Rights House Foundation is a member of the Norwegian NGO Forum for Human Rights, coordinated by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Norwegian human rights NGOs have for years worked closely with a view to share information and public commemorations. The NGO Forum is be a space of cooperation and information between NGOs in Norway about their own activities and views on current issues. – Civil Society Forum Human Rights House Foundation is one of the international members of the Civil Society Forum. Civil Society Forum (Forum, or CSF) is a network of thematically diverse non-governmental organisations from Wider Europe, established as a bottom-up, non-partisan civic initiative. – ECOSOC status with United Nations Human Rights House Foundation has special consultative status with the United Nations, under the rules of the Economic and Social Council. – Participatory status with Council of Europe In the name of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN), HRHF manages HRHN’s participatory status with the Council of Europe, under the rules of the International NGOs Conference of the Council of Europe. - Member of the (informal) Coalition Against SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation) in Europe (https://www.the-case.eu).

Organisation Members

Human Rights House Foundation is a member of the network of Human Rights Houses: https://humanrightshouse.org/human-rights-houses/