For human rights and freedoms to have effect, everyone must understand them, and everyone must be able to challenge abuses and infringements
EROs generally have three important roles: they promote, protect and monitor rights.
International human rights Conventions require governments to establish mechanisms to take on these roles.
It is vital that an organisation charged with these roles operates independently of government. Especially so in Guernsey, when the States is both the largest employer and the largest provider of services on the island.
EROs usually perform important information, awareness raising and training functions. These services should be available to individuals, businesses and other organisations.
EROs often have a vital role to play in resolving human rights issues, most commonly, issues of discrimination.
Most EROs aim to help the parties to resolve issues without blame. EROs must be impartial – however, their advice will always seek to apply the principles of human rights which generally are not open to compromise.
Until Guernsey establishes co-ordinated mechanisms to implement the Convention (partly now established), as well as independent mechanisms responsible for promoting, protecting and monitoring rights, it will not comply with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.