Part I NHRIs and the Paris Principles 1.6. REGULAR RESOLUTIONS ON NHRIs BY UN BODIES Over the past 20 years, the most important UN bodies with human rights responsibilities have regularly passed resolutions on NHRIs. These resolutions continue the VDPA’s recommendation to States for the establishment of NHRIs and, where established, their strengthening. They take account of developments each year. In particular, they have expanded the role of NHRIs within international human rights system, including the participation rights of NHRIs within the official inter-governmental forums, such as the UN Human Rights Council. It has now been proposed that NHRIs have recognition and status, including participation rights, in the General Assembly itself. The former Commission on Human Rights adopted an annual resolution on NHRIs for many years before its abolition in 2006. When the Human Rights Council was established to replace the Commission, it implemented Commission decisions relating to NHRI participation but it did not at first continue the practice of annual resolutions. That practice has now been revived and the Council has given the strongest endorsement yet to the important roles and functions of NHRIs established in accordance with the Paris Principles.26 1.7. THE GLOBAL SPREAD OF NHRIs Since the Vienna World Conference in 1993, the number of NHRIs has increased more than fivefold, from less than 20 to more than 100, of which around 70% are recognised as fully compliant with the Paris Principles. In large part, this growth is due to the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Another of the VDPA’s recommendations was the consideration of establishing the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights, a new UN official at the highest level with specific responsibility for human rights.27 When the position was established, the High Commissioner and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) gave priority for implementing the VDPA’s recommendation on NHRIs and General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights resolutions on NHRIs, supporting their establishment and strengthening in all regions. From 1995 to 2003, this support was provided by a Special Adviser to the High Commissioner.28 More recently, it has been provided by a specialist unit within OHCHR, now called the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS). The efforts of the High Commissioner and OHCHR have contributed significantly to the expansion in the numbers of NHRIs. Another important influence on the spread of NHRIs has been the work of the international and regional associations of NHRIs themselves. These associations were formed as cooperative, peer-supported initiatives to: • promote the establishment of Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs • strengthen NHRIs once established • support NHRIs to develop their capacities and increase their effectiveness • build international best practice for NHRIs • undertake joint activities • liaise with the High Commissioner for Human Rights • increase NHRI engagement with the international human rights system. 26 The most recent General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions on NHRIs are in Appendices 4 and 5 respectively of this manual. 27 A/CONF.157/23; Part II, para. 18. The position was established by General Assembly resolution 48/141. 28 The Special Adviser was a very experienced practitioner, Brian Burdekin, who had been Australian Human Rights Commissioner from 1986 to 1994. Chapter 1: The origins and development of NHRIs | 9