Chapter 1
Introducing National Human
Rights Institutions

Chapter 2
Models of NHRIs

Chapter 3
Roles and Responsabilities of
NHRIs

Chapter 4
The Rule of Law and the NHRI

Chapter 5
NHRIs, Development and
Democratic Governance

Chapter 6
Situating NHRI Support in the UN Planning & Programming Process

Chapter 7
Pre-establishment Phase of NHRIs

Chapter 8
Establishing NHRIs

Chapter 9
Consolidation Phase:
Strengthening the Mature NHRI

Chapter 10
Paris Principles and Accreditation

1.2.6 NHRIs and human rights-based approach to development

Human rights are a crosscutting and normative set of rules and standards that have legal effect across every aspect of governance and human activity. In this regard, it is important to see human rights as standards that should be mainstreamed across all UN work as well as a distinct set of programs and activities.

NHRIs can, through their existing roles and responsibilities, support a human rights-based approach to development. Two sets of tasks are engaged, which speak directly to the functions of NHRIs:

  • Identifying and empowering rights-holders to assert their rights.
  • Identifying duty-bearers and ensuring that they have the responsibility, authority and resources needed to discharge their duties.

The human rights-based approach (HRBA) to development has been founded on the following human rights principles:

  • Universality and Inalienability
  • Indivisibility
  • Interdependence and Interrelatedness
  • Equality and Non-Discrimination
  • Participation and Inclusion
  • Accountability and Rule of Law