Crisis Management for National Human Rights Institutions

Crisis management involves the development and implementation of strategies to address sudden and significant disruptions that push an institution beyond its normal operating limits.

In the context of NHRIs, a crisis may emerge as:

• A massive human rights violation that challenges the NHRI’s response capacity
• A direct threat to the NHRI’s independence, reputation, or resources
• A protracted crisis or series of overlapping crises
• A deliberate attempt to weaken or co-opt the institution

Such situations require NHRIs to adapt rapidly, maintain service delivery under pressure, and recover their operational capacity while safeguarding staff wellbeing and institutional integrity.

This training will be specifically tailored to the needs and contexts of NHRIs. It will provide a structured overview of:

• The fundamentals of crisis management
• How to develop a crisis response plan
• Roles and responsibilities of crisis management teams
• Crisis communication strategies
• Case-based exercises and group discussions
• Lessons learned from real-life NHRIs’ experiences

The training will combine theory and practice to help participants understand how to navigate crises while continuing to fulfil their human rights mandate.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the training are to:

• Build practical knowledge of crisis management strategies relevant to NHRIs
• Share experiences and best practices among NHRI peers from across the OSCE region
• Engage in practical exercises and scenario-based learning
• Equip participants with the tools to respond effectively to crises while minimizing disruptions
• Enhance the capacity of NHRIs to recover from crises
• Improve future preparedness and resilience

Format

The training course will be held in person in Warsaw, Poland, and delivered in English.

It will use interactive and participatory methodologies, and will be facilitated by two international experts in NHRI crisis management, together with the ODIHR Human Rights Adviser/NHRI focal point.

ODIHR will cover travel expenses, accommodation, training materials, and lunch during the training.

Participants

The training course will bring together 20–25 representatives of NHRIs from across the OSCE region, selected through a competitive application process.