Danish Institute for Human Rights - International Activities

"Official statistics is like a high-resolution camera - you can see many things very clearly. But there are blurs in the edges of the camera frame, and that is where the marginalized groups are. Citizen data can help sharpen that focus on the edges", Mauricio Amaya, Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística - DANE Colombia. Last week, Danish Institute for Human Rights attended the 4th Expert Group Meeting on Citizen Data alongside colleagues from four other national human rights institutions and partners from The Indigenous Navigator.  The Institute helped set the stage for the discussions by reminding the participants of why we work on citizen data: because duty bearers have an obligation to deliver on human rights for all rights-holders including the most marginalized who are currently in the blurry edges of the photo. Citizen data tells their story and gives them a solid foundation of evidence to stand on when claiming their rights.   We heard from everybody in the room including Indigenous People, organizations of persons with disabilities, women and girls' organizations, and human rights defenders - all bringing different stories to the table about how they generated citizen data and attempt to turn the data into policy action. And we heard stories about how to collaborate on citizen data generation and its integration in national statistical systems from the National Statistics Offices, oftentimes the ultimate validator of data at national level and thus a gatekeeper of making data credible and trust-worthy in the eyes of both citizens and decision-makers. We leave Bangkok inspired to carry the work on citizen data forward into a time where human rights and international law are under immense pressure. Thank you to all our partners and to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for making our participation at the meeting and work on citizen data possible. “Citizen data isn't just data, it's a movement”, said Francesca Perucci from Open Data Watch, and we are proud to be part of it. 

As trilogue negotiations begin on the EU’s #Omnibus I proposal, the Danish Institute for Human Rights urges policymakers to safeguard the integrity of the EU’s corporate sustainability framework. In a vote earlier today, the European Parliament approved its position on a series of changes to sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies in their so-called Omnibus I proposal, and now trilogue negotiations with the parliament, the European Commission and the European Council will begin. The stated aim of the Omnibus I proposals is simplification. But rather than simplifying, the current proposals risk dismantling key elements of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD), turning them into procedural formalities and penalizing companies already leading on sustainability. 📄 Read our full reaction in the PDF below. Key concerns include: 🔹 Drastic reductions in scope: Proposed thresholds would exclude thousands of companies with significant human rights and environmental impacts, undermining both directives’ effectiveness and penalising frontrunners. 🔹 Departure from risk-based due diligence: Proposals limit due diligence to direct suppliers and put restrictions on engaging with or seeking info from business partners, contradicting international standards and ignoring that most severe risks often occur deeper in the value chain.  🔹 Weakening stakeholder engagement: All three institutions propose restrictions that reduce stakeholder consultation to a formality, excluding key actors like National Human Rights Institutions. 🔹 Loss of harmonised civil liability: Removing the EU-level liability regime weakens enforcement and leaves victims navigating fragmented national systems. 🔹 Removal or weakening of climate transition plans: Proposals either weaken or delete obligations for companies to make climate transition plans, ensuring their strategies and business models are compatible with the Paris Agreement.  The coming months offer a final opportunity for the co-legislators to recalibrate the Omnibus and ensure it delivers on its promise: simplification without sacrificing substance. The Danish Institute for Human Rights calls on the Danish Presidency to do its utmost to ensure that the final Directives send the right signal to business: due diligence is a proactive exercise which requires engaging stakeholders to identify and address severe and likely impacts wherever they occur and has the objective of preventing and mitigating adverse impacts on people.

Using Citizen Data to tell stories from minority and marginalized groups and promote their rights.   In our interconnected world, data shows where developments progress, stagnate and regress and thereby guides action. However, a critical gap exists; Minority and marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, persons with disabilities, remain underrepresented in official data. As a result, their voices, unique challenges, needs, aspirations, and contributions are often overlooked. This is not only hindering action that can promote and protect their human rights, but also inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind.    Citizen Data can help close this gap.   Citizen Data is data produced by the minority and marginalized groups themselves, or by organizations representing them, to monitor, demand, or drive change on issues that affect them. It is crucial in revealing gaps in the realization of human rights.   This week, Danish Institute for Human Rights is participating in the 4th Expert Group Meeting on Citizen Data along with several of the Institute’s partners, who are using tools developed or co-developed by the Institute to collect Citizen Data.    The meeting will focus on the implementation of the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, which was developed by the Collaborative on Citizen Data when Danish Institute for Human Rights hosted the Expert Group Meeting in 2023. The framework sets out standards and principles that can help guide the way forward on citizen data. Representatives from National Statistical Offices, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, and International Organizations will come together in Bangkok to exchange experiences, explore best practices, and co-create pathways to strengthen the use, quality, and impact of citizen data.   One of the key messages of Danish Institute for Human Rights at the meeting is the importance of a Human Rights-Based Approach (#HRBA) to Citizen Data, as it helps bring together relevant data stakeholders and develop communities of practice that improve the quality, relevance and use of data and statistics in ways that align with international human rights norms and principles.   Read more about a Human Rights-Based Approach to Citizen Data below and find information about the Institute’s work on Citizen Data in the comments. #CitizenData #InclusiveData #DataForDevelopment #EGMCD2025

Danish Institute for Human Rights takes part in new partnership to strengthen Human Rights in Bangladesh. We are proud to announce that the Danish Institute for Human Rights will play a central role in a new initiative to support human rights and democratic reform in Bangladesh, generously funded by the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh. Together with our consortium partners, DIGNITY and IMS (International Media Support), we will work alongside local actors to strengthen civil society, independent media, and access to rehabilitation for survivors of violence and torture. At the Danish Institute for Human Rights, our particular focus will be on supporting the reform of Bangladesh’s National Human Rights Commission. We aim to help transform it into a strong, independent institution—capable of acting as a watchdog, a trusted adviser to the future government, and an ally to human rights defenders. As our International Director, Mette Thygesen, puts it: “We see a unique opportunity to support both institutional reform and civic engagement in Bangladesh. Reforming the National Human Rights Commission is key, and to be effective, our engagement will also build bridges and work with civil society and youth to articulate human rights demands and shape the country’s future.” This programme comes at a pivotal moment, as Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, calls on civil society and institutions to help build a more inclusive future. We look forward to contributing to this important work and to collaborating with our partners and local stakeholders in Bangladesh. See more about the project below and in the comments.

Imagine you are a member of a Saami community in Sápmi, Finland... Your local school no longer offers instruction in Northern Saami. The children are losing their language and cultural heritage. The municipality says there aren’t enough Saami-speaking pupils to justify a new teacher. What do you do? Friday morning, participants at the workshop on citizen-generated data at the Standing up for Democracy & Rights conference, organized by Nyt Europa (NE), Global Focus, Danish Institute for Human Rights and other partners, were asked to step into this scenario. Using The Indigenous Navigator framework, they explored how communities can document their own realities in a systematic way and use that data to advocate for change that respects human rights for all. The workshop brought together global principles for citizen data in the Copenhagen Framework Agreement with concrete tools that apply those principles in a local and national context.   Here are some key insights from the speakers:   Peter Koblowsky from International Civil Society Centre and the Collaborative on Citizen Data spoke about what citizen data is and why it is important: 🗨️ Citizen data is produced by rights holders themselves, focusing on issues that matter to them. 🗨️ It empowers communities, respects marginalised voices, and expands the power to produce data. 🗨️ The Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, endorsed by the United Nations Statistics Division, provides shared principles and a roadmap for implementation at country level.   David Berger from IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs introduced the Indigenous Navigator: 🗨️ The Indigenous Navigator is a community-based framework for monitoring Indigenous Peoples’ rights and development. 🗨️ It enables Indigenous communities to collect their own data, advocate for policy change, and pursue self-determined development. 🗨️ The Navigator has been implemented in over 30 countries and has led to tangible impacts – from court victories in Kenya to mother-tongue education in Nepal.   Stinne Skriver Jørgensen from Danish Institute for Human Rights presented the Disability Barometer and LGBTQ+ Barometer: 🗨️ The barometers are tools developed with stakeholders to track inequality across key indicators. 🗨️ The Disability Barometer shows persistent inequality across all measured areas, and is used by civil society, media, and policymakers to push for change. 🗨️ The LGBTQ+ Barometer highlights lived experiences of discrimination and helps identify areas for targeted policy action.   Throughout the workshop, participants reflected on the transformative potential of citizen data. It’s not just about numbers – it’s about voice, agency, and rights.   Next week, Danish Institute for Human Rights will participate in the 4th Expert Group Meeting for Citizen Data, continuing the global conversation on how citizen-generated data can drive inclusive and rights-based decision-making.

“Standing up for democracy and fundamental rights is more important than ever.” These were the words of Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs, as she opened the conference ‘Standing up for Democracy & Rights.‘ In her opening speech, the minister reminded participants of the Copenhagen Criteria, which place values such as democracy, the rule of law, and human rights at the heart of EU accession. However, she noted that these values are increasingly under threat – not only from external forces but also from within the European Union itself. “There is a lot at stake. The EU has become a global bastion of rights, freedom, and democracy. If the EU cannot live up to the highest standards of rule of law and democracy, who will?” she concluded. Standing up for Democracy & Rights, hosted by Global Focus and Nyt Europa (NE), is a two-day conference held during the Danish EU Presidency. It brings together voices from across Europe and various sectors to collectively reaffirm shared democratic commitments and translate them into concrete action. The Danish Institute for Human Rights is a conference partner and participates alongside our civil society and academic partners from the Eastern Neighbourhood countries. Through plenary sessions, expert presentations, collaboration with decision-makers, and workshops, the conference explores how to strengthen and safeguard established democratic principles, while identifying tools to renew and develop a shared European democratic foundation. The conference is grounded in the conviction that respect for fundamental rights should not take a back seat to military build-up – security also means legal certainty.

"Democracy cannot be defended by dismantling the institutions that hold it together." Today – November 4, 2025 – marks the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. This is not only a moment of celebration – it is also a time of historic pressure on the rules-based international order, demanding unequivocal Nordic support. On the occasion of the anniversary, all National Human Rights Institutions in the Nordic region have co-authored a joint op-ed on the importance of the convention and other institutions protecting human rights. "As the national human rights institutions of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, we share a deep concern. When the institutions that safeguard human rights are weakened, it’s not just a legal framework that disappears – it’s also the stability on which our peace, security, and prosperity depend." Find the op-ed in the comments.

How can we protect the human rights of populations residing in conflict-affected areas? This was the central question at a roundtable last week in Chișinău, Moldova, co-hosted by the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the People’s Advocate of the Republic of Moldova, and the Council of Europe, in partnership with European Network of National Human Rights Institutions. During the event National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus came together to share experiences and develop strategies for monitoring, reporting, and advocating for human rights in areas where state authority is absent or weakened due to conflict or post-conflict situations. Millions of people in Europe live in such territories, facing systemic human rights challenges and limited access to justice and independent monitoring. While NHRIs have a unique capacity to respond, practical guidance and engagement in these contexts remain limited. The roundtable addressed this gap by fostering cross-sectoral dialogue and exploring operational risks, data quality principles, and human rights-based approaches to monitoring hard-to-reach populations. Civil society actors and NHRIs from Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, and Belarus contributed valuable insights. The event concluded with a strong reaffirmation: human rights protection must persist beyond lines of control. Through ethical monitoring, institutional resilience, and regional solidarity, NHRIs and their partners can uphold accountability and safeguard human dignity—even amid conflict and repression. This initiative is part of the Danish Institute for Human Rights’ broader engagement in Eastern Neighborhood Countries, supporting human rights actors in complex environments. As Mette Thygesen, International Director at the Institute, said in her opening remarks: “What we need more than ever in this global environment marked by growing authoritarianism, polarization and politicisation of human rights, is to strengthen alliances, connections and cooperation amongst the different actors of the human rights ecosystem.” Read the full story in the comments.

Uniting efforts to address climate-related human rights harms in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change – and also one of the poorest. This week, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone hosted a national conference in Freetown to spotlight the human rights impacts of climate change. The conference brought together government representatives, civil society, academia, journalists and rights holders directly affected by climate change. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Alpha Sesay, launched the Commission’s new report documenting how climate change is affecting human rights in Sierra Leone – and voiced strong support for the Commissions recommendations on aligning climate action with human rights obligations. This, for example, includes improving availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality of water for communities and taking stronger measures to ensure disaster risk reduction and relief without discrimination. The report was developed with support from the Danish Institute for Human Rights, using the Climate Change and Human Rights Analytical Framework. The tool has been developed by the institute to help identify and address human rights risks in the context of climate change, with funding from Agence Française de Développement, and the work in Sierra Leone has been funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.  One of the tasks ahead is to develop a human-rights based climate law and ensure that action and funding follow to realize the rights of the people of Sierra Leone in the face of climate change. You can find the Climate Change and Human Rights Analytical Framework in the comments as well as a case story on how the Commission has used the tool. 

Preserving the risk-based approach: Ensuring the Omnibus maintains the EU’s sustainability objectives and aligns with the core international standards.   Last month, Nordic companies voiced their support for the #CSDDD during a roundtable co-hosted by MEPs Stine Bosse and Kira Marie P. in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights. Yesterday, the European Parliament rejected the JURI Committee’s proposed negotiating position on the Omnibus Directive, opening up the possibility of further departures from the risk-based approach. The Nordic companies expressed concerns about the way in which the risk-based approach in the #CSDDD is being reframed in the Omnibus proposal. As highlighted in our event report and echoed in a blog post, departing from the well understood approach of the #UNGPs and #OECDGuidelines would complicate implementation, create parallel processes, penalise those who are leading the way in responsible business conduct and fail to deliver for rightsholders. https://lnkd.in/eVExQBTq https://lnkd.in/d7CbN5nK The final Directive must send the right signal to business: due diligence is a proactive exercise focused on risks to rightsholders. It requires engaging stakeholders to identify and address impacts on people wherever they occur, with the objective of preventing and mitigating adverse impacts on people and enabling effective remedy. We hope that as the legislative process progresses it is informed by the business practitioners already implementing due diligence, and the needs of rightsholders.