Why is it in the News?

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is preparing to defend the government’s human rights processes at a meeting in Geneva this week, where a decision on whether India’s human rights body will retain its “A status” is expected to be made.

About Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI):

• The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is a representative body of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from across the world.
• It assists in the establishment and strengthening of independent and effective NHRIs, which meet the international standards set out in the Paris Principles.
• GANHRI encourages joint activities and cooperation among NHRIs, organises international conferences, liaises with the United Nations and other international organisations, assists NHRIs under threat, and assists governments in establishing NHRIs.
• The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) and other member institutions continue to make a significant contribution to the operations and human rights initiatives of GANHRI.
• The organisation is incorporated as a non-profit organisation under Swiss law.
• Its Statute, adopted in March 2009, sets out its objectives and how it operates.

Membership:

• NHRIs that comply fully with the Paris Principles – and which have been granted 'A status' by GANHRI – are eligible to become voting members of GANHRI and to hold governance positions.
• NHRIs that only partially comply with the Paris Principles – and which have been granted 'B status' by GANHRI – can participate in meetings of GANHRI but are not eligible to vote or to hold governance positions.

Bureau:

• The operations of GANHRI are managed by its Bureau, which is comprised of representatives from each of the four regional groupings:
  • Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.
• Each regional grouping is represented by elected representatives from four 'A status' NHRIs.
  • The APF is currently represented on the GANHRI Bureau by Australia, India, Korea, and Qatar.
• A key role of the Bureau is to assess applications for membership in the ICC.
• It also reviews and determines the accreditation status of NHRIs, following a recommendation from the Sub-Committee on Accreditation.
• In addition, the Bureau collaborates with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in particular the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Unit, to facilitate the participation of NHRIs in the United Nations Human Rights Council.
• Bureau meetings are usually held twice a year; the first is in conjunction with the first quarter session of the UN Human Rights Council and the second is in conjunction with one of the NHRI regional network's meetings.
• A meeting is also held in conjunction with the bi-annual International Conference.

International Conference:

• The International Conference involves NHRIs, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies, international organisations, and civil society.
• The purpose of the International Conference is to strengthen cooperation between NHRIs, to discuss human rights issues of shared concern, and to ensure follow-up at the national level.
• The International Conference is held every two years, alternating between Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.

Officials:

• The positions of GANHRI Chairperson and Secretary are served on a rotational basis by representatives nominated by the four regional coordinating committees: Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific.
• The current GANHRI Chairperson is Maryam Abdullah Al Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC), representing the Asia Pacific region.
• The current GANHRI Secretary is Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco (CNDH), representing the African region.

Secretariat:

• The National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Unit of OHCHR acts as the GANHRI secretariat.
• GANHRI has a permanent representative in Geneva to support and facilitate the participation of NHRIs in the UN Human Rights Council and its human rights mechanisms.