10.1.2 Key features

The Paris Principles set out standards that all national human rights institutions should meet, as well as a few additional principles that apply only to institutions with "quasi-jurisdictional" competence. These additional Principles are optional, even for institutions with such competence. Since these are not part of the 'minimum standards' that all institutions must meet, they are not dealt with in any detail here.

The Paris Principles are minimum conditions that must be met for a NHRI to be considered credible by its peer institutions and within the UN system.3 Under the Paris Principles, NHRIs are required to:

• Protect human rights, including by receiving, investigating and resolving complaints, mediating conflicts and monitoring activities; and
• Promote human rights, through education, outreach, media, publications, training and capacity building activities, as well as by advising and assisting governments.

The Paris Principles set out what a fully functioning NHRI is and identify six main criteria that these institutions should meet to be successful:

• A broad mandate, based on universal human rights standards;
• Autonomy from government;
• Independence guaranteed by statute or constitution;
• Pluralism including through membership and/or effective cooperation;
• Adequate resources; and
• Adequate powers of investigation.

It should be noted that non-compliance with the Paris Principles does not mean that the UN should refuse to work with an institution; however, non-compliance does signal that activities should be directed towards achieving compliance. (See further discussions on this point at 10.3, "Non-compliant NHRIs.")

3 The process by which a national institution is accredited as complying with the Paris Principles is described later in this chapter.