The Human Rights Ombudswoman of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, attended an international conference on the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Berlin today, 16 June 2026. The event was organised by the Council of Europe and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, which currently chairs the Network of Execution Coordinators (ExCN).

Stephanie Hubig, the German Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, welcomed the participants at the opening of the event, which brought together representatives of national human rights institutions, government officials participating in the ECtHR judgment execution coordination network, Council of Europe representatives, government officials, and academics.

The opening session was followed by a panel discussion in which Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek also took part. Entitled 'Cooperation as a Response to Challenges', the discussion saw her join a representative of the Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments, a national coordinator for the execution of ECtHR judgments, and an academic representative. Together, they discussed the challenges related to the execution of ECtHR judgments, the role of national human rights institutions in this process, and the importance of effective cooperation among various stakeholders in ensuring the execution of ECtHR judgments is effective, full, and timely.

During the discussion, the Ombudswoman highlighted Slovenia as an example of good practice, both in executing the most complex pilot judgments, which required a specific approach, and in executing other judgments. While at the end of 2015, Slovenia had more than 90 per cent of all judgments against it pending execution, amounting to 309 judgments, today only six remain pending.

She emphasized the importance of establishing an interministerial working group for the execution of ECtHR judgments, of which the Human Rights Ombudsman is an external member. She also highlighted the important coordinating role played by the Ministry of Justice in this process.

Furthermore, she particularly highlighted the Ombudsman’s recommendation that action reports and action plans should be translated into national languages for transparency purposes. This proposal was supported by the majority of participants and experts as a new initiative. She also stressed the importance of national parliaments, advocating for an annual parliamentary debate on the state of execution of ECtHR judgments in each country. This proposal was likewise well received, as it strengthens democratic dialogue and adds further political weight to the overall process.

The conference took place at a time when the political and legal environment for the ECtHR was becoming increasingly challenging. Participants discussed the challenges of executing judgments and strengthening confidence in the European Convention on Human Rights system, as well as the importance of dialogue and cooperation among member states. Particular attention was also devoted to sensitive areas such as migration and asylum, where differing views on ECtHR case law have emerged in recent years.

Executing ECtHR judgments is essential to ensuring that the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights are effectively upheld. Although states are responsible for implementing judicial decisions, successful execution often requires the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders at both the national and European levels. Cases have become increasingly complex in recent years, while Europe faces changing challenges and a growing need for sustainable reforms.

Throughout the day, participants exchanged experiences and good practices through the opening panel, thematic workshops and the concluding discussion, and explored practical ways of strengthening cooperation. Today’s meeting aimed to establish more structured cooperation among key stakeholders and support more effective, transparent and sustainable processes for executing judgments across Europe.

The event brought participants together to:

• reflect on the respective roles and added value of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and execution coordinators in the judgment execution process;
• exchange good practices and challenges related to supporting the timely, effective and sustainable implementation of ECtHR judgments;
• discuss the role of NHRIs in reporting to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe;
• examine how Council of Europe projects and joint initiatives can support enhanced cooperation at the national level; and
• explore the broader role of NHRIs in the protection of human rights across Europe.

A meeting of the ENNHRI Board of Directors was held in Berlin yesterday, hosted by the German Institute for Human Rights. The Secretariat and Board members reviewed the most important developments in ENNHRI’s work, opportunities to build on past achievements, the next steps in implementing the network’s new strategic plan, and key governance issues for the coming months. The Slovenian Human Rights Ombudswoman, Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek, participated in the meeting in her capacity as a Board member.

ENNHRI brings together 51 national human rights institutions from across Europe. NHRIs, working through the ENNHRI network, are playing an increasingly important role in monitoring the execution of judgments, reporting to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, advising states, and strengthening capacity-building and awareness-raising efforts. This work helps to prevent recurring violations and achieve systemic improvements in human rights protection.