Other EU and International complaint bodies

Some other bodies that may be able to handle your complaint about fundamental rights.

You should always attempt to find solutions via national channels before contacting international bodies.

Only contact an international body when:

  • the issue falls exclusively under its mandate
  • the national system can't offer an appropriate response to your claim, or
  • you are not happy with the solution you got via national channels.

Please check on the website of each body listed below before lodging a complaint with them, or requesting guidance.

Please carefully read the website of each institution listed below before, for example, lodging a complaint with them. Due to their international nature, their backlog might be even larger than national bodies. Attempts to find solutions through national channels should therefore always come before contacting international institutions. International institutions should only be used in the following situations: when the issue falls exclusively under the mandate of the international institution in question; when the national system cannot offer an adequate response to your claim; or, lastly, when the national solution is unsatisfactory.


European Union

Body

Contact data

Court of Justice of the European Union

Address: Palais de la Cour de Justice, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer, Kirchberg, L-2925 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Tel.: (+352)43031

Website: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/j_6/en/

E-mail: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/T5_5133/en/ (contact form)

Notes: The Court of Justice interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries. If you have suffered damage as a result of action or inaction by a Member State, an EU institution or its staff, you can file a complaint with the Court.

European Commission

Address: European Commission, Secretary-General, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium (postal address for complaints)

Tel.: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11

Website: https://ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-commission/contact/problems-and-complaints/help-defending-your-rights/individuals_en

E-mail: https://europa.eu/european-union/contact/write-to-us_en (contact form)

Notes: The Commission promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by ensuring that such legislation is correctly put in place by EU Member States. If you believe that your Member State has failed to correctly implement such legislation, you can file a complaint with the Commission.

European Data Protection Supervisor

Address: Rue Montoyer 30, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel.: +32 22831900

Website: https://edps.europa.eu/edps-homepage_en

E-mail: edps@edps.europa.eu

Notes: The European Data Protection Supervisor is responsible for monitoring EU institutions and bodies on their compliance with data protection rules. If you believe that your privacy has been infringed by a Member State or an EU body, you may file a complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor.

European Ombudsman

Address: 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman, CS 30403, F-67001 Strasbourg, France

Tel.: +33 388172313

Website: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/home

E-mail: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/contacts (contact form)

Notes: The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about poor administration by EU institutions or other EU bodies. If you believe that you have been subject to poor, unfair, discriminatory or abusive treatment by any EU body you can file a complaint with the Ombudsman.

European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions

Address: European Parliament, Bât. Altiero Spinelli, 60 rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels, Belgium

Tel.: -

Website: https://petiport.secure.europarl.europa.eu/petitions/en/show-petitions

E-mail: peti-secretariat@ep.europa.eu

Notes: The Petitions Committee has been established to conduct inquiries on the way in which European legislation is implemented. If you wish to issue a complaint on a subject falling within the sphere of law of the European Union, you can submit a petition to the Committee.

Council of Europe

Body

Contact data

Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Address: Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Council of Europe, Agora Building, F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: + 33 (0)3 88 41 22 96

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/minorities/home

E-mail: https://www.coe.int/en/web/minorities/contact (contact form)

Notes: The Advisory Committee has a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Framework Convention by states. Its task is to ensure that the standards of the Convention are applied by all the concerned states, in the various fields of interest for persons belonging to national minorities. In this context, the Advisory Committee is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

European Commissioner for Human Rights

Address: Council of Europe, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)388413421

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/home

E-mail: commissioner@coe.int

Notes: The European Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent and impartial non-judicial institution with the role of promoting awareness of and respect for human rights. In this context, the Commissioner's Office is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

Committee of Experts on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Address: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, DG II - Directorate of Human Dignity and Equality, Council of Europe, Agora Building, 1 Quai Jacoutot, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)390214466

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-charter-regional-or-minority-languages

E-mail: minlang.secretariat@coe.int

Notes: The Committee of Experts monitors the implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Its role is to examine the real situation of the regional or minority languages in each State Party. In this context, the Committee is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

Committee of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee)

Address: Children's Rights Division, DG II - Directorate General of Democracy, Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: -

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/lanzarote-convention

E-mail: lanzarote.committee@coe.int

Notes: The Committee of the Parties monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. It facilitates the collection, analysis and exchange of information, experience and good practice between States to improve their capacity to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. In this context, the Committee is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

Committee of Social Rights on the European Social Charter

Address: Department of the European Social Charter, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe, 1, Quai Jacoutot, F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel.: +33 (0)390214961

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-social-charter

E-mail: social.charter@coe.int

Notes: The rights guaranteed by the Charter concern all individuals in their daily lives such as housing, health, education, employment, legal and social protection, free movement of persons and non-discrimination. The Committee on Social Rights determines whether or not national law and practice in the State Parties are in conformity with the Charter and is able to offer you information in this regard, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Address: Secretariat of ECRI, Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)390214662

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/home

E-mail: ecri@coe.int

Notes: The Commission against Racism and Intolerance is entrusted with the task of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance in Europe from the perspective of the protection of human rights. In this context, the Commission is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Address: Secretariat of the Venice Commission, Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 388412067

Website: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/events/default.aspx?lang=en

E-mail: venice@coe.int

Notes: The role of the Venice Commission is to provide legal advice to its Member States on constitutional matters and, in particular, to help states wishing to bring their legal and institutional structures in line with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. In this context, the Venice Commission is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ)

Address: Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Division for the Independence and Efficiency of Justice, Council of Europe, Avenue de l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)388413554

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cepej/home

E-mail: cepej@coe.int

Notes: The aim of the CEPEJ is the improvement of the efficiency and functioning of justice in the Member States. In this context, the Commission for the Efficiency of Justice is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture

Address: Council of Europe, Secretariat of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 388413939

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/home

E-mail: cptdoc@coe.int

Notes: The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture organises visits to places of detention in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated. The Committee cannot act upon your individual complaints, but it can assess communications from individuals and decide whether to exercise its functions upon such communications.

European Court of Human Rights

Address: European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)388412018

Website: https://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home

E-mail: https://www.echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=contact&c= (contact form)

Notes: The European Court of Human Rights protects the human rights as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. If you believe that your rights have been violated by the action or inaction of a state which is a party to this Convention, you can file a complaint with the Court.

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

Address: Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, (GRETA and the Committee of the Parties), Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France

Tel.: +33 (0)390215254

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/anti-human-trafficking

E-mail: Trafficking@coe.int

Notes: The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is responsible for monitoring implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties. In this context, GRETA is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)

Address: Violence against Women Division, Department of Equality and Human Dignity, Council of Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg

Fax: +33 (0) 390215648

Website: https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/home

E-mail: conventionviolence@coe.int

Notes: The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) is an independent expert body that monitors the implementation of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) by the Parties. In this context, GREVIO is able to offer you information, but it cannot act upon individual complaints.

 

United Nations

Body

Contact data

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is the body of independent experts which monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by its State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by its State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance by the State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and of the two

Optional Protocols on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC), and on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC) by its State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the body of independent experts which monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set forth in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Committee against Torture (CAT)

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Committee Against Torture (CAT) is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by its State parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set forth in the Convention, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Human Rights Committee

Address: Petitions Team, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: +41 229179022

Website:https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/TBPetitions/Pages/HRTBPetitions.aspx

E-mail: petitions@ohchr.org

Notes: The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts which monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State Parties. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of any of the rights set out in the Covenant, you can file a complaint with the Committee. You can only file a complaint against a State which has accepted the Committee’s competence to examine individual complaints.

Human Rights Council

Address: Special Procedures Division, OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax : +41 229179006

Website:http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/communications.htm

E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org, SPBInfo@ohchr.org

Notes: The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. If you believe that you have been a victim of a violation by a State Party of your civil, political, cultural, economic, and social rights, you can file a complaint with the relevant expert.

Last update: 04/12/2018

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