Skip to content

International collaborations

Unia is recognised internationally and at multiple levels as an institution that protects human rights and fights discrimination. Unia is a member of several European human rights networks and actively participates in various European bodies.

National institution for the protection of human rights with B status

Unia has been officially recognised as a B-status National Human Rights Institution by the UN-backed Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). 

Unia owes this recognition to its independence and its commitment to human rights, including the right to equal opportunities and non-discrimination.

Member of European human rights networks

Unia is an active member of three European human rights and anti-discrimination networks:

  • ENNHRI: The European Network of National Human Rights Institutions
  • Equinet: The European Network of equality bodies, of which our director, Patrick Charlier, has been Chair since October 2023
  • AFCNDH: The French-speaking Association of National Human Rights Commissions

Active participation in European bodies

  • ECRI: European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Our Director, Els Keytsman, has been a member of ECRI's Bureau since December 2023.
  • FRA: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Our Director, Els Keytsman, has also been an alternate member of FRA's Management Board since 2021.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

In 2011, Unia was designated as the independent mechanism responsible for implementing, protecting and monitoring the application of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the United Nations in 2006.

This Convention aims to help all people with disabilities to participate - on an equal footing - in political, economic, social and cultural life. It is now part of Belgian law in the same way as other treaties, the Constitution or any other law.