IDDH was present in Lisbon to participate in the 3rd International Seminar of the International Network of National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up of Human Rights Recommendations (NMIRFs). The event was held at the invitation of the Portuguese National Human Rights Commission and brought together States that have already established such mechanisms, as well as others that, like Brazil, are still in the process of building them.
The centrality of social participation
During the seminar, Fernanda Lapa, Executive Director of IDDH, took part in a panel dedicated to discussing the importance of social participation that is truly effective and inclusive. In her intervention, she emphasized that the engagement of civil society organizations depends directly on the willingness of States to create formal, concrete, and proactive mechanisms for participation.
According to the Executive Director, civil society engagement should not be limited solely to the stages of report drafting or monitoring (follow-up). It is essential that organizations also play an active role in the implementation of international recommendations and obligations directly within territories.
Expectations for the Brazilian national mechanism
IDDH’s participation in the seminar takes place at a moment when the Brazilian government is finalizing the design of its national mechanism, with its launch expected by mid-year.
Alongside partners such as the UPR Brazil Coalition (Coletivo RPU), IDDH has been submitting contributions to ensure that the Brazilian State presents an institutional design that incorporates concrete and robust forms of social participation from the outset. The goal is to ensure that the voices of Brazilian civil society are central pillars in the implementation of public human rights policies in the country.
The presence of IDDH at the 3rd International Seminar reinforces the organization’s commitment to strengthening social participation within international human rights mechanisms. We continue to work to ensure that these spaces go beyond formal structures and become effective instruments of implementation, capable of transforming international recommendations into concrete public policies at the territorial level.
