2.5 Recent Resolutions of the UN General Assembly
In December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted two important resolutions. Of particular interest is Resolution 63/172 on the importance of NHRIs for the promotion and protection of human rights. In addition, "Resolution 63/169 addresses the role of the Ombudsman, mediator and other NHRIs in the promotion and protection of human rights. These two resolutions are “testimony of the growing importance that the United Nations Member States attach to the role and potential of national human rights commissions and ombudsman institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights at the national, regional and international level.”7
Resolution 63/172, reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic NHRIs in line with the Paris Principles; encourages NHRIs to seek accreditation status through the ICC and notes with satisfaction the strengthening of the accreditation procedure and the continued assistance of OHCHR in this regard. It also notes the continuing work of the regional human rights networks in Europe, the Network of NHRIs in the Americas, the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs and the Network of African NHRIs.
Resolution 63/169 underlines the importance of the autonomy and independence of the Ombudsman, mediator and other national human rights institutions. The resolution also encourages Member States to consider the creation or the strengthening of independent and autonomous Ombudsman, mediator and other national human rights institutions and to develop, where appropriate, mechanisms of cooperation between these institutions in order to coordinate their actions, strengthen their achievements and exchange lessons learned.
7 Gianni Magazzeni, Chief of Branch, Americas, Europe and Central Asia, OIC of the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section, Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division, OHCHR, “Current Challenges to the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights”, talk given at a ceremony to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of the Swedish Parliamentary Ombudsman office, 2009.