The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) is an independent, national human rights institution modelled in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. The Institute, which was established by statute in 2002, carries on the mandate vested in the Danish Centre for Human Rights in 1987. This encompasses research, analysis, information, education, documentation and the implementation of national and international programmes. The Institute is part of the Danish Centre for International Studies and Human Rights (DCISM), which also includes a sister institute, the Danish Institute of International Studies (DIIS).

The chief objective of the DIHR is to promote and develop knowledge about human rights on a national, regional and international basis predicated on the belief that human rights are universal, mutually interdependent and interrelated. The Institute believes that societies must be based on the rule of law, where the state protects and confers obligations on the individual while safeguarding the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups in society. 

The Institute cooperates with organisations and public authorities in Denmark, with academic institutions and humanitarian organisations in other countries, as well as with the Council of Europe, the EU, the OSCE, the UN, the World Bank and a range of international donors. DIHR employs about 100 staff and in 2006 had an annual budget of €12 million.

 

Focus Areas

The Danish Institute for Human Rights implements human rights programmes in partnership with state institutions and civil society organizations in Denmark and internationally. We support a number of organizations in their work to promote human rights. It is the aim of the Institute to make the projects sustainable and nationally anchored.

 

The work is rights based and rooted in the human rights obligations held by Denmark. Among other things, the Institute contributes with knowledge, concepts and analyses and forms part of various networks. The Institute selects different focus areas and works strategically with these in various ways.

 

Equal Treatment in Denmark	DIHR contributes to promoting equality and fighting discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity and disability from a horizontal perspective.
Human Rights in Denmark	Does Denmark comply with the human rights? DIHR checks this. We analyse, advice, educate, inform and carry out research to assist politicians and civil service.
Research	Working with rights demands an independent analysis and here research is essential to new acknowledgement and implementation in society.
Justice	DIHR works to strengthen the rule of law and peoples' access to justice in countries across the world.
Education	DIHR works to strengthen the rule of law and peoples' access to justice in countries across the world.
Human Rights and Business	The promotion of human rights in business demands a direct match with the key actors. Thus, we cooperate with partners in the corporate sector.
Freedom and civic participation	We work both nationally and internationally with NGOs, media, governments and universities to facilitate citizens’ possibilities for active citizenship.
National human rights and institutions	The UN has set out the principles for how National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are to work. DIHR is one of approximately 100 so-called NHRIs in the world.
A Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)	A Human Rights Based Approach seeks to regulate the relationship between state and the public on the basis of citizen rights and state obligations.