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OHCHR National Institutions Unit

OHCHR National Institutions Unit. Activity Highlights 2007. Summary. The United Nations and NHRIs OHCHR Strategic Management Plan 08-09 Technical assistance 2007 Regional and International Meetings ICC Secretariat International HR System Partnerships

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OHCHR National Institutions Unit

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  1. OHCHR National Institutions Unit Activity Highlights 2007

  2. Summary • The United Nations and NHRIs • OHCHR Strategic Management Plan 08-09 • Technical assistance 2007 • Regional and International Meetings • ICC Secretariat • International HR System • Partnerships • Conclusions of the UN Secretary-General

  3. The United Nations and NHRIs • NHRIs with a broad mandate have a pivotal position as the key-stone of a strong national human rights protection system • NHRIs are the best relay mechanism at country level to ensure the application of international human rights norms • NHRIs can play a crucial role in addressing critical human rights issues, such as summary executions, torture and arbitrary detention, as well as fighting impunity • NHRIs are key actors in the HRC, UPR, TBs and SP system • OHCHR Field Offices should seek a gradual transfer of responsibilities to an NHRI when it becomes more Paris Principles compliant, leading eventually to a sustainable OHCHR exit strategy

  4. OHCHR Strategic Management Plan 2008-2009 Global Level Indicators • The number of NHRIs accredited with “A status” or improving their accreditation status by the International Coordinating Committee; • The number and proportion of countries where NHRIs and CSOs are submitting information to treaty bodies, special procedures and the Human Rights Council in the context of the UPR Budget • SMP budget allocated to NIU includes funds for support to the ICC once it is established as a legal entity (min $ 25,000 – max $75,000) • OHCHR already granted $ 23,000 to the Indian NHRC in order to develop and maintain the website nhri.net

  5. 1. Technical Assistance 2007 • Azerbaijan, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Italy, Lesotho, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, the Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Timor Leste Examples: • Provided advice concerning the compliance of the Instituto de Derechos Humanos of Chile with the Paris Principles • Advice on the draft legislation on the reorganization of the HRC in Madagascar, through UNDP Office • Supported the establishment of the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission, based in Juba • Supported the Ugandan Human Rights Commission in strengthening its complaints handling system • Undertook a mission to Cambodia with a contracted consultant to support the establishment of a Paris Principles compliant NHRI in Cambodia • Organized training workshops for staff of the Office of the Ombudsman in Azerbaijan

  6. High-Level action • Urgent action: Letters or press releases re. Afghanistan, Georgia, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan • HC Statement at 19th session ICC Meeting • DHC statement at 20th anniversary meeting Danish Institute for Human Rights • HC letter to UNOG DG for Office space allocation at PdN to interim ICC rep

  7. 2. Regional and International Meetings OHCHR supported or organized: • Regional Ombudsman Conference (Pristina, 8-9 June 2007 ) • 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs (Sydney, Australia, 24-27 September 2007); • 6th Conference of African NHRIs (held in Kigali, Rwanda, 8-10 October 2007); • Regional workshop on the establishment of NHRIs for countries that do not yet have an NHRI (Manila, the Philippines, 15-17 October 2007); • 6th General Assembly of the Network of the Americas that contained a discussion panel on the role of NHRIs vis-à-vis the Disability Convention (Mexico City , 26 October 2007) • Third Conference on the role of NHRIs in promoting the independence of the judiciary in the Arab region (Rabat, Morocco, 12-14 November 2007); • Round Table of NHRIs on transitional justice (Cape Town, South Africa, 23-25 November 2007) • Regional workshop for Spanish speaking NHRIs on prevention of torture, (Costa Rica, 26-30 November 2007)

  8. 3. ICC Secretariat • Services provided to the 19th ICC Meeting (March 2007) • Services provided to ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation • In 2007, 30 NHRIs were reviewed to assess their compliance with the Paris Principles • As of December 2007, the ICC accredited 60 NHRIs with A- status • Strengthening of the accreditation procedure: • Appeal process ensuring greater transparency and due process • More rigorous review with inputs from the field and NGOs • More focused recommendations supported by General Observations • Wider distribution of the recommendations

  9. 3. ICC Secretariat (cont.) • Services provided to ICC Bureau meeting (June 2007) • Proposal to establish ICC rep • Meeting of Bureau with TB members and SP Annual Meeting Services provided to ICC Expanded Bureau meeting (December 2007) • ICC Governance • Supported the interim ICC representative in Geneva for her interaction on behalf of NHRIs in HRC and TB sessions • Created a Fellowship program for NHRI staff to join the NIU which started in 2008 with Korea and then Australia • Started an Info Note for wide distribution to all OHCHR staff and NHRIs

  10. 4. International HR System • Supported and facilitated enhanced role for NHRIs and regional coordinating bodies in Human Rights Council and Treaty Bodies, including through ICC rep, a.i. • Organized a side event to the 14th Annual Meeting of Special Procedure mandate holders, on NHRI-SP interaction • NI Unit statements to OPCAT, CESCR, CERD, CEDAW. The CERD amended its rules of procedure , in favor of A- accredited NHRIs making statements to the CERD. CEDAW adopted a statement on relationships with NHRIs. • Briefing notes to Treaty bodies and SPs on NHRIs. Also facilitated NHRIs to provide alternative reports to Treaty Bodies. • TB workshops held in Indonesia, the Philippines and Guyana for NHRIs, NGOs and the media, focusing on effective follow up action at national level (followed by Geneva workshop) • Organized the National Institutions and Treaty Bodies Workshop (Geneva, 26 to 28 November 2007). NHRIs interacted with members of the CAT, OPCAT, CERD and HRC.

  11. 5. Partnerships • April 2007 - OHCHR Guide distributed to all UN Resident Coordinators (advice to UNCTs on practical steps to facilitate the establishment or strengthening of a credible NHRI) • Main partners: the APF, APT, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, l’Association francophone des Commissions nationales des droits de l’homme, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Council of Europe, OSCE/ODIHR, the Ibero‑American Federation of Ombudsmen (FIO), the Special Fund for Ombudsmen and National Institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean, the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

  12. 6. UN SG Conclusions • SG report A/HRC/7/69 mentions: • Ensuring the independence and autonomy of NHRIs, pluralistic representation, as well as their interaction with a broad range of national and international stakeholders, is a priority • The more the United Nations system works closely with and through independent NHRIs, the greater are the chances of success and sustainability of good governance, rule of law and human rights efforts • SG encourages NHRIs to undertake activities for the 60th anniversary of the UDHR • DHC will address you and make a specific proposal on Th. 17 April

  13. ICC 20th Meeting THANK YOU

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