General Meeting of the VMR
The Executive Board and Head Office provided information on initiatives, projects and consultations with authorities and private individuals that have achieved or initiated concrete improvements for people in Liechtenstein. In 2024, 57 individuals approached the Association for Human Rights (VMR), the Ombuds Office for Children and Adolescents (OSKJ) and the new Monitoring Office for Persons with Disabilities (MOBE) with human rights concerns. They felt discriminated against, unfairly treated or subjected to violence. In over half of the cases, support was offered in the form of advice, mediation or intervention - in seven cases, direct intervention with the authorities took place.
Human rights education has been an important pillar of the association's work since it was founded. Since 2019, human rights workshops have been offered in more than 40 secondary school classes together with aha and Amnesty Liechtenstein. Last year, the offer was further expanded and supplemented with tolerance workshops. Political participation is the basis for democracy and the rule of law. In the "Diversity in Politics" project, the VMR examined the opportunities for political participation of foreigners in Liechtenstein and published recommendations for action. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is also about social participation. In 2024, the "Disability Monitoring Office" was established at the VMR. It began by taking stock of disability rights in the country and is preparing a national platform that will also enable those affected to participate in the examination of disability rights.
The fact that protection against violence and the achievement of gender equality are still a long way off is also evident in Liechtenstein. In a broad-based campaign, the VMR campaigned for the recognition of unpaid care work. To combat domestic violence, it called on the responsible authorities to introduce a silent, barrier-free emergency hotline, among other things.
The global challenges make it clear: human rights should not just be written down. They must become effective. This is why the VMR launched the "Pro Menschenrechte - Prozessieren mit Wirkung " ("Pro Human Rights - Litigation with Impact ") project, which aims to enforce human rights through strategic court proceedings and obtain justice. The association covers the legal costs for the person concerned. The Ombuds Office for Children and Adolescents is pursuing the same goal with the vision of a child-friendly justice system in Liechtenstein. In a project study, it aims to lay the foundations for children to be heard, protected and accompanied in a child-friendly manner and for their rights to be taken seriously and respected in proceedings before authorities and courts.
