International Human Rights and the International Human Rights System A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Foreword The relationship between National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and the international human rights system is a two way relationship. The international human rights system promotes NHRIs. It has adopted the Paris Principles, the main normative standard for NHRIs. Through the Universal Periodic Review and the treaty monitoring bodies, it urges every State to establish an effective, independent NHRI that complies with the Paris Principles and to strengthen it. It provides technical assistance for that. In return NHRIs contribute to the international human rights system. They can participate in sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council. They can utilize the Council’s complaints procedure to bring consistent patterns of gross human rights violations to the attention of the Council. They can cooperate with the Council’s special procedures. They can also contribute to the Universal Periodic Review process for their country and to the treaty monitoring bodies’ work in considering countries’ reports of compliance. This manual aims to assist NHRIs with their engagement with international human rights mechanisms. It also provides a ready reference for their work with the international human rights system. I hope that it will be well used not only during APF training courses but also within APF member institutions for internal capacity building. Kieren Fitzpatrick Director Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions iii