Pristina, 7 July 2021 – The European Network of National Institutions for Human Rights (ENNHRI) published its annual report on the rule of law in Europe. The Kosovo’s Ombudsperson Institution is a member of ENNHRI since 2013 and has contributed to this report.

This year’s report brings together the reports of ENNHRI member countries, compiled on the basis of human rights monitoring and reporting functions, taking into account their mandate and national strategic priorities.

The trends which emerge from these reports point to a number of challenges related to the rule of law environment across Europe. Key findings include the following:

• Persisting issues continue to affect the effectiveness of NHRIs in many states across the region, including limited mandates, lack of sufficient resources, poor implementation of NHRIs’ recommendation by state authorities, flawed consultation practices and, for some, worrying threats to independence.
• Human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are facing severe challenges in many states across the region, due to laws and practices restricting CSOs’ enabling space and operations, limited funding, gaps in access to and participation in decision-making.
• Weakened democratic checks and balances, especially reported in connection to the emergency situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, are regarded as a potential threat to the rule of law framework and on human rights protection – especially in those countries where more generalised deficiencies exist as regards key safeguards such as judicial oversight, access to information and transparency of law and policy making.
• In a worrying number of states across the region, journalists are reportedly subject to threats, intimidation, harassment including through abusive lawsuits and hate speech, as well as, in some cases, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions and obstacles to reporting on the part of government authorities. In various states across Europe, the media sector reportedly suffers from concentration, political and economic pressure, while hate speech in the public discourse remains a concern.
• Limited progress is reported in the fight against corruption, which remains at concerning levels in a number of states, also in connection with the reduced transparency and accountability determined by the pandemic context.
• Widespread human rights violations affect the national rule of law environment in some countries, including systemic violations of human rights of migrants and ineffective responses to hate speech and crime routinely targeting racialised groups and LGBTI+ people

Read full report here https://bit.ly/3dOjZ1k