NHRI Leadership: an introductory guide NHRIs are typically given the following functions, with the necessary legal powers to implement these functions: • monitor the human rights situation in the country and the actions of the state • provide advice to the state in relation to laws, policies, programmes and actions so that the state can meet its international and domestic human rights commitments • receive, investigate and resolve complaints of human rights violations • promote human rights awareness and understanding through education programmes for all sections of the community • engage with the international human rights community to raise pressing issues and advocate for recommendations that can be made to the NHRI’s state. 2. The Paris Principles The Paris Principles are the international minimum standards for NHRIs2. They are not aspirational – what NHRIs should be – but obligatory – what NHRIs must be, if they are to be legitimate, credible and effective in the promotion and protection of human rights. They are arranged in four sections: • competence and responsibilities • composition and guarantees of independence and pluralism • methods of operation • additional principles concerning the status of commissions with quasi-judicial competence. The Paris Principles have been the subject of General Observations developed over several years by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)3. The General Observations are authoritative, interpretative statements that assist in understanding and implementing the Paris Principles4. They are ‘an important body of jurisprudence to give meaning to the content and scope of the Principles’5. In spite of their limitations, the Paris Principles have proved to be the essential starting point for NHRIs throughout the world. They are the basis on which the SCA accredits NHRIs. NHRIs fully compliant with the Paris Principles are accredited with A status and those that comply only partially are accredited with B status. A status institutions are recognised and respected nationally and internationally as legitimate, authoritative experts on human rights and so they can participate fully in UN forums. B status institutions do not have this level of recognition and acceptance and have only limited access to UN forums. New NHRIs can apply at any time for accreditation and the SCA determines whether they should be accredited with A or B status. A status NHRIs are subject to a regular five-year cycle for review of their accreditation. They must also advise the SCA of any material change to their situation that occurs at any time and, based on that advice or on its own initiative, the SCA can undertake a special review. B status NHRIs are not currently subject to regular review. However, a B status NHRI can apply at any time for a review of status to enable it to 6 2 Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions, attached to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/54 and General Assembly resolution 48/134, at https://ganhri.org/paris-principles/. 3 Formerly called the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. 4 GANHRI SCA General Observations as adopted in Geneva in May 2013 and revised in February 2018, at https://ganhri.org/accreditation/general-observations/. 5 GANHRI SCA General Observations as adopted in Geneva in February 2018, Introduction para 4, at https://ganhri.org/accreditation/general-observations/.