UNDP-OHCHR Toolkit

module overview

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

module overview

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

3.6 Cooperation with the International Human Rights System

The Paris Principles state that NHRIs should cooperate with the United Nations and with organisations in the UN system. Indeed, cooperation with the international and regional human rights mechanisms is a key requirement of the Paris Principles, as emphasized in the General Observation of the Sub-committee on Accreditation, approved by the ICC, on interaction with the international system as set out on next page:

Interaction with the International Human Rights System: The Sub-Committee would like to highlight the importance for NHRIs to engage with the international human rights system, in particular the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms (Special Procedures Mandate Holders) and the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies. This means generally NHRIs making an input to, participating in these human rights mechanisms and following up at the national level to the recommendations resulting from the international human rights system. In addition, NHRIs should also actively engage with the ICC and its Sub-Committee on Accreditation, Bureau as well as regional coordinating bodies of NHRIs.15

NHRIs have a fundamental role in the international system: they cooperate with major UN organisations, agencies, programmes and funds, including not only UNDP and the OHCHR, but also UNICEF, UNIFEM, ILO,UNHCR, UNESCO, WHO and UNFPA. In addition, NHRIs perform an important role in cooperating with intergovernmental bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council, through such processes as the Universal Periodic Review. NHRIs can ensure that the comments and recommendations of Treaty Bodies and of Special Procedures are considered and implemented. Because of their practical expertise, they are useful partners in international efforts to define new or develop existing human rights standards and mechanisms. This section will give a brief overview of the different mechanisms and thematic issues in which NHRIs can play an instrumental role.