About the Icelandic Human Rights Institute

The Icelandic Human Rights Institute is an independent institution operating under the auspices of Alþingi (the Icelandic Parliament) and started operations on May 1, 2025.

The institute is fully independent and operates in accordance with the United Nations' Paris Principles, which are intended to ensure the independence and impartiality of national human rights institutions around the world.

The main role of the Institute

The main role of the Icelandic Human Rights Institute is to promote and protect human rights in Iceland, as defined in the Constitution, national legislation, international human rights conventions and other international obligations.

The Icelandic Human Rights Institute works to ensure that public and private entities respect human rights in all areas of society.

Questions & Answers

Does it cost to contact the Icelandic Human Rights Institute?

No, all advice, information and assistance provided by the Icelandic Human Rights Institute is free of charge to the public.

Does the agency accept complaints and make decisions on individual cases?

The Human Rights Institute is not a decision-making body and does not handle individual cases. However, we provide guidance and help people direct their cases in the right direction.

However, reports from individuals can provide the organization with important information about the status of human rights issues and lead the organization to examine the issue or make recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

What are the Paris Agreements?