Organised by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and with the support of the institution of the Ombudswoman of Croatia, the NHRI Academy 2026 is taking place in Zagreb from 1 to 5 June 2026.

This year, the workshops and discussions focus on the impact of artificial intelligence systems on human rights, as well as the spread of disinformation and fake news, growing social polarisation, and the general rise of narratives directed against human rights.

Opening this year’s NHRI Academy, Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter warned that these challenges are present in many countries, which is why strengthening and educating Academy participants, as well as other stakeholders, is crucial for addressing them effectively.

She emphasised that democracy, the rule of law and human rights are interconnected and inseparable. She added that over the past year, many societies, including Croatia, have seen a strengthening of tendencies aimed at undermining the rule of law and questioning human rights as a concept — something that would have been unimaginable a decade ago — as she also reported in the 2025 Annual Report.

The Ombudswoman also pointed to the growing pressure on certain social groups, such as national minorities and migrants, particularly foreign workers, as well as on human rights defenders, civil society and independent institutions.

For this reason, it is particularly important to enable national human rights institutions to acquire the practical experience and strategies needed to effectively confront and address these challenges. This, together with exploring their role in promoting and protecting human rights in a changing information landscape, is the aim of this five-day event.

Representatives of more than 25 national human rights institutions from across Europe are taking part in the NHRI Academy. The Academy itself represents the pinnacle of practical human rights training and a place for sharing the best ideas and sources of inspiration essential for the effective work of national human rights institutions, especially in challenging times such as those we are living in today.

The programme of the event is available here.