1. Disability Summer School Galway 21 June 2016
Amplifying the Voices of Civil Society Germany: German Civil Society and the German Institute for Human Rights
Disability Summer School
Galway 21 June 2016
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

2. I: Background information
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

3. GIHR: a National Human Rights Institution
Special type of institution: Based on Paris Principles (1993)
Typology: Commission, Ombudsman, Committees, Institutes
GIHR founded in 2001
GANRHI Chair since 2016
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

4. Implementation of Article 33 CRPD in Germany
Art. 33 (1): Focal Points in all ministries; headed by Labour and Social Affairs
Art. 33 (2): Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) (GIHR)
Art. 33 (1) and (3): Council of Inclusion (with the Federal Commissioner on Disability Matters)
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

5. GIHR: Principles of cooperation
NHRI – an own voice
Cooperating with all agents
Keeping equal distance to all agents
Inclusive, equally accessible, transparent, accountable
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

6. II: Modes of cooperation: three examples
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

7. 1 “Civil Society Consultations”
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

8. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

9. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
Conceptual elements
Three times a year (4 hours)
Private, inclusive, semi-formal
Number of members: 60 of which half is present
22 meetings since 2009
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

10. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
Functions
Provide a unique platform
Exchange experiences and information
Develop a common understanding
Discuss CRPD related issues
Think of (individually used) strategies
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

11. Extracts from the agenda:
Give introductions to UN Doc and procedures, e.g. GC No 1 and 2
Draft Laws, e.g. BGG
Draft Policies, e.g. data collection
CRPD Concluding Observations, e.g. discuss torture critique
Single issues: e.g. Workshops
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

12. 2 Promoting parallel-reporting
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

13. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
Event on civil society parallel reporting (2011)
Provide accessible information on website for CS
Be around CRPD-Alliance – observer status ( )
Informal cooperation with NGO-representatives in Geneva ( )
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

14. 3 Special efforts for highly marginalized groups
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

15. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
e.g. the deaf blind
Special personal hearing of deafblind
Press release
Follow-up in our lobby activities
Give special attention to these issues
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

16. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
III: Summary
Amplifying the voice of civil society? Yes and no!
NHRI: own role, own voice, own agenda
Agenda can highly be influenced by CS, however not compelling
Nevertheless: interaction with CS is crucial for our performance (and vice versa?)
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

17. Thanks for your attention!
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.

18. Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.
More information:
Dr. Valentin Aichele, LL.M.