Acknowledgements

This Toolkit has benefited from the contributions of a vast number of colleagues from UNDP and the OHCHR. Support and guidance of the following National Human Rights Institutions that served as the members of the Core Support Group (CSG) are gratefully acknowledged: India (P. Michael Vetha Siromony, former Joint Secretary), South Africa (Adv. Tseliso Thipanyane, former Chief Executive Officer), Uganda (Caroline Nalule, Director Complaints, Investigations and Legal Services) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (Ulrik Spliid, Senior Legal Advisor). Thanks are also due to Aruna Sharma, former Joint Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission of India, and to Margaret Sekaggya, former Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission and UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders. Both individuals served on the CSG in the early phase of the project.

The importance of the user perspective was ensured through the establishment of the joint UNDP-OHCHR electronic User Group, whose field perspective, contribution and participation in the Validation Consultation of an advance draft of the Toolkit helped to anchor the document in recent and practical experience. Contributions from the following colleagues are gratefully acknowledged: Clemence Alfazema, Suki Beavers, Sekhonyana Bereng, Emmanuel Buendia, James Chacko, Natia Cherkezishvili, Samuel Egwu, Bairbre Fee, Elizabeth Fong, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Birgit Gerstenberg, Mohamad Doddy Kusadrianto, Rustam Pulatov, Siphosami Malunga, Enid Ndiga-Irungu, Sudarshan Ramaswamy, Mario Solari, Mounir Tabet, Alla Bakunts, Angela Dumitrasco, Emilia Mugnai, Aparna Basnyat, Nusrat Jahan, Shireen Said, Jagoda Walorek, Tatiana Lopes, Nolitha Peter, Tek Tamata, Ahowanou Agbessi, Heike Alefsen, Homayoun Alizadeh, Alida Arana, Richard Bennett, Matilda Bogner, Vladlen Stefanov, Citlalin Castañeda, Dimiter Chalev, Mahamane Cisse-Gouro, Paulo David, Frej Fenniche, Musa Gassama, Dirk Hebecker, Todd Howland, David A. Johnson, Jeroen Klok, Paul Miller, Ahmed Motala, Simon Munzu, Jacqueline Nzoyihera, Christophe Peschoux, Jonathan Prentice, and Benedict Sannoh. Additional feedback and insights from the participants at the 2009 UNDP Global Human Rights Community of Practice Meeting is also acknowledged.

Special thanks are due to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which graciously hosted the 2009 Validation Consultation and provided facilitation support. The meeting was a critical step in the development process of the Toolkit. We would like to sincerely thank the former SAHRC Chairperson, Jody Kollapen, and his staff, particularly Victoria Malloka and Betty Mamabolo, for all the support and collaboration.

The Toolkit initiative was coordinated and managed by Zanofer Ismalebbe and Patrick van Weerelt, on behalf of the Democratic Governance Group and the UNDP Global Human Rights Strengthening Programme. Special appreciation is due to Gianni Magazzeni (former Chief of National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS) for being the OHCHR counterpart and for his unwavering dedication and support, as well as several staff at the NIRMS for their contribution to different stages of the process.

The Toolkit drafters are Pearl Eliadis and John Dwyer. They have a combined three decades of experience working with NHRIs, as well as with other types of institutions such as ombudsman and transitional justice institutions in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Possible errors or omissions would be, of course, those of the drafters.