NHRI Leadership: an introductory guide New leaders will want to know, among other things, • the NHRI’s legal framework relating to its role and mandate, including its founding legislation • international human rights standards set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights treaties to which the country is a party • the international human rights framework for NHRIs, including the Paris Principles, resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly dealing with NHRIs and the NHRI’s role in relation to the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies, the special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review, as well as with regional and global NHRI associations, including APF and GANHRI11 • all reports on the NHRI’s compliance with the Paris Principles issued by the GANHRI SCA • the NHRI’s current strategic and operational plans and its priorities and programmes, legacy work flowing from previous NHRI initiatives, key complaints and investigations before the NHRI, and other issues that may have come to the attention of the NHRI • the staffing structure and the responsibilities of NHRI staff, including internal reporting lines and the responsibilities and accountabilities of key positions • the internal administrative, financial and personnel policies and procedures, including those relating to gender mainstreaming and women’s employment within the NHRI • the media responsibilities of the NHRI’s leaders, including whether they would benefit from a programme of media training. The NHRI should have a package of key documents ready to be provided to each incoming NHRI leader. The leaders should be updated as and when these key documents are updated. Questions for leaders • Who are the leaders in your NHRI? • What criteria does your NHRI’s founding law set for eligibility for appointment to the NHRI? • In addition to the five essential requirements for NHRI leaders set out in this section of the guide, what other requirements do you see as essential? • What are the criteria for senior staff appointments in your NHRI? Questions for leaders (continued) • What kinds of interests could raise a conflict with an NHRI leader’s role and responsibilities in the NHRI? • What information and resources did you receive when you began at your NHRI? • What do new leaders at your NHRI receive now at the time of their appointment? • What additional information and resources do they require? 11 14 More information on this topic is available in the APF manual on international human rights and the international human rights system, at International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System: A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions.