This paper describes the efforts of the Danish Institute for Human Rights（DIHR）to address human rights issues by building partnerships with civil society organisations and state institutions. The approach is based on the assumption that a stable democracy is best achieved by the simultaneous presence of a vibrant，consolidated civil society and by transparent，well-functioning state institutions. The dialogue and interaction between the two sectors continues in an ongoing process. Both monitoring and advocacy activities of civil society as well as the dialogue and cooperation with the state are complementary in ensuring that the state respects its human rights obligations. The dialogue between civil society and the state，including reform initiatives，constitutes a stabilising element in this process.

In order to enter into dialogue or cooperation with the state，civil society organisations must be well consolidated. They must possess a basic capacity in pursuing human rights issues，but they also apply suitable methods in promoting human rights within the given form of cooperation.

This paper describes the methodology applied by the DIHR in the context of the DIHR partnership strategy. Particular emphasis is placed on the DIHR civil society programme area.