Paris Principles relevant to NHRI engagement with regional civil society organisations, regional mechanisms and international actors The Paris Principles outline the essential characteristics and functions of NHRIs to ensure their effectiveness, independence, and credibility, several of which are relevant to NHRIs’ collaboration with regional civil society organisations, regional intergovernmental mechanism and international actors. NHRIs should: • Have a broad mandate as possible, to both promote and protect human rights. • Publicise information on human rights situations, including that of defenders; • Interact with the international human rights system, including UN bodies and committees; regional institutions and NHRIs of other countries. • Engage with other human rights bodies, including CSOs. Resources • The Paris Principles (‘Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions’) • GANHRI General Observations on the Paris Principles Engaging with Regional and International Actors Toolkit 9