10.2.2 Why is Accreditation Important?

Accreditation is a mechanism to assess whether another human rights institution complies fully with the Paris Principles. As will be discussed later, this assessment comprises both a 'paper' review and a 'substantive' assessment of compliance with the Paris Principles. A-Status accreditation confers international acceptance of the bona fides of an institution, an acceptance that would not exist otherwise, and opens the door for that institution to participate in the work and decision-making of the ICC, as well as the work of the UN Human Rights Council and other UN bodies. For example,

"NHRIs accredited by ICC as being in compliance with the Paris Principles may participate and address the Council in an independent capacity… It is important that the principle that only those national institutions deemed to be in compliance with the Paris Principles are able to address the Council be upheld."21

Failure to be accredited as being in compliance with the Paris Principles lets the world community know that a national institution is not fully independent or effective and therefore not entirely credible. An immediate benefit of the accreditation process is the issuance of recommendations by the ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation, which in turn provide a solid basis for future efforts to further strengthen the institution and engage the national authorities in this.

21 Report of the Secretary-General on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights: Implementation of General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 at para. 15.