Maurice Manning, the president of the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), has been elected chair of the European group of human rights institutions for the next two years, the first time Ireland has received this honour.
Dr Manning said yesterday that the IHRC was honoured by the confidence and trust which their European colleagues had shown in electing the Irish commission to lead the co-ordinating committee for the next two years.
"In the course of those two years we expect to see greater co-operation between the commissions, the building of contacts with international and regional agencies and organisations like the United Nations, the European Union and the Council of Europe in pursuing common human rights objectives.
"I also wish to record our gratitude to our predecessors, the French Human Rights Commission, who have chaired the committee so effectively since 2002."
The European Co-ordinating Committee represents the European group of national human rights institutions on a global co-ordinating committee. Similar regional structures exist for the Asia/Pacific area, Africa and the Americas.
The European group includes institutions such as commissions, human rights ombudsmen, institutes, advisory commissions and people's defenders.
In addition to its regular meetings, the European Co-ordinating Committee provides a permanent forum for exchange between its members.
The committee may adopt common positions or work collectively on a common area of concern.