The first initiative was taken by the Salzburg Professor of International Law, Dr. Herbert Miehsler, a well-known teacher and publicist of human rights law. When he died in 1986, Professor DDr. Franz Matscher, who was also judge of the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg at the time, took over and succeded in getting the Institute established. For this credit is also owed to the then Provincial Governor of Salzburg, Dr. Wilfried Haslauer (1926-1992) and the then Federal Minister of Science, Professor Dr. Hans Tuppy.

The Institute benefited especially from the support of the Peter Kaiser-Foundation (Vaduz/Liechtenstein) and its President, Senator Prof. DDr. Herbert Batliner, and the Hermann and Marianne Straniak-Foundation (Sarnen/Switzerland) and its President, Barrister-at-Law Dr. Herwig Liebscher (Salzburg).

The Austrian Institute for Human Rights operates as a public service association, members of which are the Republic of Austria, the Province of Salzburg and the Catholic University Foundation, Salzburg.
Those supporting the Institute financially may become supporting members. Corresponding members are those who help accomplish the Institute's work in an outstanding way and support the Institute's mission. Honorary membership can be granted, in the case of special service to the Institute.

The General Assembly is composed of the members of the organization. The Executive Board is composed of the Federal Minister for Science and Research, the Provincial Governor of Salzburg and the President of the Catholic University Foundation, one further representative for each appointed by the board members, and in addition the President of the International Research Centre for Social and Ethical Issues and the Directors of the Institute. The Supervisory Committee consists of two auditors appointed by the General Assembly.

The Institute is advised by an Academic Council which is made up of well-known persons from academia and practice both domestic and foreign.