A Commissioner for human rights
The post of Commissioner for Human Rights was created in 1999.
The Commissioner is an independent institution responsible for promoting education, awareness and respect for human rights in member states and ensuring the full and effective compliance with the Council of Europe’s normative instruments.
The Commissioner plays an essentially preventive role, performing different functions from those of the European Court of Human Rights and other treaty-based organs. The Commissioner does not have executive powers but provides advice, analysis and recommendations to member States to remedy legislative shortcomings and prevent human rights violations in practise.
The Commissioner’s terms of reference also provide for the promotion of national human rights institutions and co-operation with other international organisations. The Commissioner may act on any relevant information from governments, national parliaments, national ombudsmen or similar institutions, individuals and organisations.
The Commissioner can submit a report, recommendation or opinion on a specific matter to the Committee of Ministers and to the Parliamentary Assembly. The first holder of the post was Alvaro Gil-Robles (Spain) who was elected by the Parliamentary Assembly in September 1999. Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden) was elected to the post on 5 October 2005 and will take up office in April 2006.
Websites
European Court of Human Rights
http://www.echr.coe.int/echr
Directorate General of Human Rights
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_rights
Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Commissioner_H.R
English 
