GNCHR facing the future - Article by the President of GNCHR M. Gavouneli, 10.2.2021
Published in the newspaper “KATHIMERINI” on 23 - 1 - 2021
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) is the independent advisory body to the Greek State on human rights issues. In 2020, the NCHR marked 20 years of continuous presence and contribution to the protection of human rights in the country, as acknowledged by the President of the Hellenic Republic, who joined us in celebrating the International Human Rights Day.
The manner in which we carry out our mandate is monitored and evaluated by the competent UN bodies that have always attested the substantive independence of the NCHR and accredited us with the highest possible A-status, which permits our participation to UN organs and committees.
The draft law, which is already coming to Parliament next week, is an initiative of the NCHR that has been accepted by the government to ensure that the national human rights institution is ready to face the challenges of the future. Our proposals are the product of extensive consultation with all NCHR members and have been repeatedly approved by the Plenary, which also discussed at length the implications of previous unilateral interventions in our founding law.
The NCHR shall thus acquire a separate legal personality, with administrative autonomy and financial independence, in other words: its own budget and the competence to run its own affairs. These are the structural guarantees of independence that safeguard the actual independence of the institution, while ensuring pluralism in its composition and safeguarding its role as a bridge between the state administration and civil society.
In another open, democratic and pluralistic process, the President and Vice-Presidents continue to be elected by the members, while a flexible mechanism is instituted to allow for the expansion of the NCHR upon proposal of its members.
With these tools, we will continue to work towards developing, both methodologically and substantively, the first mechanism for measuring the impact of policies on human rights (Human Rights Impact Assessment) in Greece, which will be our gift for the 200 years of independence.
We have already completed the first comprehensive report on refugee and migration issues and are preparing similar reports on the status of women (a much needed inquiry, as evidenced by recent incidents) and the protection of children. Of course, in the difficult times of the pandemic, the NCHR continues to regularly and vigorously monitor frontline services, publishing the “Principles for the Protection of Human Rights in the Time of Health Crisis”.
At the same time, the NCHR will continue to participate in the evaluation of the country by the international human rights protection mechanisms: cooperating with Frontex and the Fundamental Rights Agency in the European Union, intervening before the European Court of Human Rights or participating in the process of monitoring the implementation of its judgments, presenting its own report to the relevant UN Committees –and co-designing protection policies with its counterparts in the European and international institutions.
The National Commission for Human Rights is embarking on a new era. Building upon the strong foundations of the past 20 years, it is prepared to face the challenges of the pandemic, new technologies, artificial intelligence, climate change and the ongoing adversity caused by inequality and discrimination in an ever-changing world. Our build is robust...
* Maria Gavouneli is an Associate Professor at the School of Law of the University of Athens and President of the National Commission for Human Rights.