More than 100 countries have national human rights institutions (NHRIs) dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights. They work on the basis of the Paris Principles, which the United Nations adopted in 1993 as the international standard for the role and functioning of national human rights institutions.
The Paris Principles define the mandate and working methods of NHRIs. The core elements are independence, a mandate covering all human rights, a legal basis that establishes political legitimacy and maintains the NHRI’s independence, and infrastructure and funding that enable effective functioning.
The compliance of an NHRI with the Paris Principles is verified in an accreditation procedure recognised by the United Nations. This is carried out by GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA). The procedure distinguishes between accreditation levels A and B. A-accredited NHRIs have participation rights at UN level, including the right to speak at the Human Rights Council. The SCA is responsible for the monitoring procedure and is supported by the National Institutions, Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Section (NRCS) of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.
If an NHRI complies fully with the Paris Principles, "A status" is awarded; if it only partially complies, "B status" is awarded. NHRIs with "A status” must undergo a review of their accreditation status every five years (re-accreditation). The German Institute for Human Rights fully meets this standard and has therefore been awarded "A status". NHRIs with "B status" are only given observer status. If an institution is accredited with “A status”, it can exercise participation rights in various United Nations bodies.
NHRIs advise policymakers, prepare studies or monitoring reports, carry out human rights education and participate in court proceedings or international human rights monitoring procedures; some also act as complaints bodies in individual cases. Numerous NHRIs also act as monitoring mechanisms for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or national preventive mechanisms in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.
Networking
NHRIs are globally and regionally networked. At a global level, the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, now GANHRI, was created in 1993. This umbrella organisation ensures NHRIs’ presence at conferences and on international committees. It also coordinates the exchange of information between NHRIs and working groups on human rights issues.
At the regional level, there are networks in Africa, America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. They support the establishment of NHRIs in their region, organise training and opportunities for exchange, and develop joint positions in regional and global human rights bodies.
The German Institute for Human Rights is a member of ENNHRI and GANHRI. From 2016 to 2019, the Director of the Institute, Prof Dr iur. Beate Rudolf, held the GANHRI chairmanship.
"National human rights institutions are independent state-created organisations that are solely committed to human rights. They are centres of competence for the domestic implementation of human rights"
