Annual conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, 2018

Monitoring the rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring their participation: The role of National Human Rights Institutions
Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

23 February 2018

Distinguished Chair of the GANHRI,
President of the Human Rights Council,
Excellencies,
Colleagues, Friends,

I am delighted to be here to open the annual meeting of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and I take this opportunity to welcome Ambassador Vojislav Šuc,the incoming President of the Human Rights Council.

2018 is a year of important commemorations: the 70thyear of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is the foundation of so much of our work: but also the 25th anniversary of the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions, known as the Paris Principles – the foundation and fundamental requirements governing the status of NHRIs.

As you know, my Office strongly supports the establishment of robust and independent national human rights institutions. NHRIs which operate in full compliance with international standards play a fundamental role in upholding the rights of all people in their countries. And for the international human rights system, including OHCHR, Paris-Principle compliant NHRIs are among our most reliable and precious partners. 

The Human Rights Council has acknowledged this by granting special status to NHRIs which are in full compliance with the Paris Principles. “A” status NHRIs have the right to speak or submit documents under any agenda item, and can actively participate in Universal Periodic Reviews.

More and more international human rights instruments, such as OPCAT and the CRPD, refer to the work of NHRIs which are fully compliant with the Paris Principles. 

In our work to provide the secretariat functions for the international human rights system, we at OHCHR must be extremely vigilant to ensure that the basis of their work is sound and reliable. The international mechanisms need information from institutions which are completely independent and impartial.

It is therefore essential that the GANHRI Subcommittee on Accreditation grants "A" status only to NHRIs which are genuinelyand fully Paris Principles compliant. And of course, members of this peer review should themselves be fully in line with international standards governing NHRIs – both legally and in practice.

Article 6 of the GANHRI Statute requires that all meetings, including sessions of the Subcommittee on Accreditation, take place under OHCHR auspices. And in his reports to the Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General has also referred to the importance of OHCHR's role in the accreditation process1. Consequently I have asked my colleagues in the Subcommittee Secretariat to assist its members in ensuring that the accreditation process is rigorous and transparent.

I am encouraged by the increasing engagement of New York-based bodies with the “A” status NHRIs. I view this as an acknowledgement of their credibility and importance. Last July, for the first time, eight “A” status NHRIs participated in the 8th session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, for example. Similar efforts have been deployed for NHRIs’ engagement with other New York bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. 

The central goal of the Sustainable Development Goals – “leaving no one behind”– requires a much more meaningful dialogue with State actors and statistical communities, and greater engagement. I encourage NHRIs to work more deeply on economic data analysis, to improve all our monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the SDGs where it matters – in your countries. 

This Annual Conference has chosen as its focus the role of NHRIs in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities. As with all international human rights instruments, NHRIs play an essential role in encouraging the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and monitoring its implementation. Indeed, Article 33 of the Convention emphasises the importance of national monitoring frameworkswhich are in compliance with the Paris Principles.

Distinguished colleagues,

My Office will continue to be active in support for your work. Since we met last year, we have continued implementing technical cooperation programmes to strengthen the capacity of NHRIs. Much of this work takes place in the context of our tripartite partnership with UNDP and GANHRI – and as you know, in February 2017, a Letter of Intent formalized our commitment to enhance that cooperation. OHCHR field offices also work closely with UNDP to assist every member State to establish, as swiftly as possible, a fully Paris Principles compliant NHRI.

In the coming months, we will launch OHCHR's new Office Management Plan for 2018-2021. In defining those strategic directions, we have consulted many stakeholders,including NHRIs. Our six pillars areas will remain non-discrimination, participation, accountability, development, peace and security and support for the human rights mechanisms. However, we will revisit their content to heighten the relevance and impact of these essential goals
I wish you a fruitful discussion today and success in your endeavours.

Thank you.

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