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

About the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC)


About the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC)

The ICC

At the 1993 International Conference held in Tunis, NHRIs established the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC). It was aimed at coordinating the activities of the NHRI network. In 2008, the ICC was incorporated under Swiss law, with a Bureau of 16 voting members representing the four regions of the ICC. The ICC also adopted the ICC Statute as a basis for the incorporation.

The ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation

The Sub Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the ICC reviews and analyzes accreditation applications and makes recommendations to ICC Bureau members on compliance with the Paris Principles. The SCA is composed of one "A status" accredited NHRI for each of the four regional groupings; namely Africa, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. Members of the SCA are appointed by the regional groupings for a renewable term of three years. OHCHR participates in the SCA as a permanent observer and as ICC secretariat.

For an overview of the process currently utilized by the SCA of the ICC to accredit national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles, and its centrality to the UN, see the Annual Reports of The UN High Commissioner For Human Rights and Reports of The Office of the High Commissioner and The Secretary-General, A/HRC/7/70 18 January 2008; 26 January 2009 A/HRC/10/55.

An NHRI can receive any of the following 3 statuses; (1) "A status": compliant with the Paris Principles; (2) "B status"; observer status - not fully in compliance with the Paris Principles or insufficient information provided to make a determination; and (3) "C status"; not compliant with the Paris Principles. As at June 2009, there were 66 NHRIs accredited with A Status by the ICC, i.e. in compliance with the Paris Principles. Summaries of NHRIs that been accredited are available through www.nhri.net.