The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM)
founded in 1992, is an independent human rights research institution under the umbrella of the Ludwig Boltzmann Association, a leading Austrian research association. Currently with a staff of 50 persons, the primary focus of BIM is on research activities in the field of human rights at national, European and international levels. BIM’s main objective is to offer a link between academic research and legal practice. A considerable amount of work is devoted to empirical research and project implementation. The research is based on a holistic approach, covering civil, political, economic, social, cultural and collective human rights. As human rights are relevant for all areas of life, the BIM is pursuing a ‘human rights based approach’, which needs to be multidimensional and interdisciplinary.
Through cooperation with international, European and national institutions — like EU, OSCE, Council of Europe, UN, ICTY, Austrian and foreign ministries — as well as other human rights research institutes and NGOs, BIM provides studies, analysis and data on human rights issues in areas such as international, European and national law, politics, education and the media. BIM is closely connected to the University of Vienna, and coordinated the activities of the University’s ‘Interdisciplinary Research Platform ‘Human Rights in the European Context’, which assembled representatives of 12 departments with the purpose of strengthening the inter-disciplinary research on the topic of Human Rights in Europe. BIM is a member of various national and international networks, including the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI), the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC), the European Rights Network Justicia, acts as observing member to the OSCE Civic Solidarity Platform, has special consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and has recently become member of the International Detention Coalition. It is also involved in various thematic Austrian rights networks (Austrian National Coalition, ECPAT Austria, Litigation Association of NGOs against Discrimination etc.). BIM staff are also engaged extensively in human rights teaching and training, and are involved in various university courses and post-graduate programmes at several European universities.
The BIM itself is currently involved in two FP7 and in one H2020 project and focuses on the following areas of research: Human Dignity and Public Security; Equality and Diversity, Antidiscrimination, Migration and Asylum; European Neighbourhood and Integration Policy; Human Rights in Development Cooperation and Business; Women‘s Rights, Children‘s Rights, Anti-Trafficking; Human Rights Education / Education for Democratic Citizenship.
For further information please see the BIM’s website: http://bim.lbg.ac.at/
The Centre for European Constitutional Law
is a renowned European research institute. It is a non-governmental organization, located in Athens and operating as a public benefit institution.
The Centre aims to promote the development of democratic institutions and the welfare state; to deepen European integration; and to strengthen international cooperation under the principle of respect to the cultural identity of each state.
The specific objectives of the Centre are to undertake theoretical and applied research in the fields of Greek, European and comparative public law and public policies; to provide institutional knowhow and capacity-building to public bodies in Greece, developing countries and member-states of the European Union; and to promote public awareness on developments in the European area.
To this date, the Centre has undertaken research, consulting and institution-building projects in more than 20 countries worldwide, and maintains an active network of collaborating institutions and highly qualified experts.
CECL hosts the National Focal Point (NFP) of the expert network operated by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRANET), has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participates with observer status in various UN events and in particular in the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. It is also a mandated body by the European Commission for the participation in Twinning projects. The CECL is also certified for the services it offers by ISO 9001:2008.
Three specialised units operate within the structure of the Centre, namely:
- The Better Regulation Unit
- The Educational Policy Unit
- The Social Policy Unit
Moreover, a Training Department operates within the structure of the Centre, the objective of which is to transfer specialized know-how and new skills to legal practitioners, entrepreneurs and business managers.