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.

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.