The role of NHRIs to promote, protect and progress gender equality Mandate NHRIs are independent state institutions established by national law or constitution and mandated with the promotion and protection of human rights, including gender rights, in and by their own countries. They enjoy a broad human rights mandate which enables them to take up any human rights situation in their country. At an international level, NHRIs monitor and encourage the implementation of, and report on United Nations recommendations relating to gender equality. NHRIs also submit information and parallel reports to treaty bodies that cover gender equality. They provide grievance mechanisms for women, girls and gender diverse people suffering from discrimination or human rights abuses NHRIs act as a catalyst to empower women and girls and help combat discrimination they experience, particularly in relation to their adequate standard of living, including income security and social protection; their food security and nutrition; and their rights to land and productive resources, including land tenure security. NHRIs are also essential for facilitating constructive exchange and useful links between the international and domestic human rights systems, thereby closing a critical implementation gap. They are mechanisms to support states in the national application of international standards, with full understanding of the local context; and they can independently report to international bodies. At a domestic level, through their continuous engagement with relevant actors at the national, regional and international level, NHRIs are in an ideal position to contribute to the development or adaptation of laws, policies and practices to protect human rights especially for those people who find themselves in situations of vulnerability, including women and girls. Important instruments are NHRIs’ monitoring reports and their advice to their national parliaments and governments, as well as their awareness-raising and human rights education activities. The Paris Principles (‘Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions’) set out the minimum standards that NHRIs must meet in order to be considered credible and to operate effectively. The key pillars of the Paris Principles are pluralism, independence and effectiveness. Under the principle of Pluralism, the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) requires that the composition of the NHRI reflects the diversity and pluralism of the society in which the NHRI is operating - including ensuring appropriate gender balance. 8 Guiding mechanisms and agendas on gender equality include focused international UN bodies and mechanisms such as the Committee on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women9, and the Universal Periodic Review10. Practice Guide to the Work of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation, available at https://ganhri.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/11/GANHRI-Manual_online1.pdf 9 Committee on Women, at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cedaw/introductioncommittee#:~:text=The%20Committee%20on%20the%20Elimination,human%20rights%20treaty%20for%20women. 8 10 Universal Periodic Review, at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/upr/upr-home Gender Baseline Assessment of NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region – July 2024 15