Published: 1st Jun, 2023
Context
For the second time in a decade, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred the accreditation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), citing objections like political interference in appointments among others.
About
- The GANHRI had granted‘A’ status of accreditation to NHRC in 2017, after deferring it the year before — the first such instance since NHRC was established (1993).
- Without the accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at the UN Human Rights Council.
What is GANHRI?
- GANHRI isrecognised and a trusted partner, of the United Nations.
- It was established in 1993 as the International Coordinating Committee of NationalInstitutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (ICC).
- It has been known as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) since 2016 and is a member-based network organization that gathers NHRIs from all around the world.
- It is composed of 120 members,India also is a member of GANHRI
- Its secretariat is situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
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What is NHRC?
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Why are the Reasons for Deferment?
- The GANHRI cited reasons such as:
- Lack of diversityin staff and leadership
- Insufficient actionto protect marginalized groups
- Involving the police in probesinto human rights violations
- Poor cooperationwith civil society
- The GANHRI said the NHRC has repeatedly failed to deliver its mandate,in particular to protect the rights of people from marginalized communities, religious minorities, and human rights defenders.
- NHCR's lack of independence, pluralism, diversity and accountability arecontrary to the U.N.’s principles on the status of national institutions (the ‘Paris Principles’).
What are the Paris Principles and ‘A’ Status?
- The United Nations’ Paris Principles, adopted in 1993 by the UN General Assembly provides the international benchmarks against which National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI)can be accredited.
- The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs are required to meet. These are:
- Mandate and competence
- Autonomy from government
- Independence guaranteed by a statute or Constitution
- Pluralism
- Adequate resources
- Adequate powers of investigation.
- The GANHRI is a group of 16 human rights agencies – 4 from each region; the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific – that have the Highest Rating (‘A’) for following the Paris Principles.
- The ‘A’ rating also lets them join the work of the GANHRI and the UN on human rights issues.
- The NHRC got its ‘A’ rating in 1999 and kept it in 2006, 2011, and 2017 after a delay. The GANHRI had delayed it because of some problems with the NHRC’s staff and appointments.
- The NHRC is led by Justice Arun Mishra, who used to be a Supreme Court judge.
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