Ameera Alhedfa: Cooperation and integration between national human rights institutions is the way to strengthen their capabilities
Doha: January 22, 2020
The Sub Regional Office Doha of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions concluded its workshop on the accreditation of national human rights institutions from 20 to 22 of this month. Ms. Ameera Alhedfa, Director of the Forum’s Regional Office, said that this workshop is the first of its kind organized by the Forum in the presence of chairs of national institutions that are subject to the accreditation for the first time and national institutions that will be subject to re-accreditation. Alhedfa pointed out that the workshop aims to develop skills and capability in the process and procedures of GANHRI accreditation and GANHRI’s subcommittee on accreditation (SCA), which is the body that assesses National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in accordance with the Paris Principles. Alhedfa added that according to the Paris standards NHRIs that are assessed as fully complying with the Paris Principles are accredited as ‘A status’, while those that partially comply are accredited as ‘B status’. ‘A status’ NHRIs are able to independently participate in the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.
The second day of the workshop discussed compliance of national institutions with the principles of Paris, by Mr. Ammar Dweik, Director General, Independent Commission for Human Rights, Palestine, Deepika Udagama
Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Ms. Katharina Rose, Geneva Representative, GANHRI, Mr. Phillip Wardle, Legal and Policy Manager, APF and Mr. Mohammad Musa Mahmodi, Former Executive Director, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
On the third and closing day, the workshop focused on the accreditation process in the subcommittee on accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, where Ms. Katherina Rose addressed SCA Telephone Interview and Post-SCA and Ms. Deepika Odagama and Mr. Philip Wardle discussed APF Support with Capacity Development.
It is worth mentioning that the submission by NHRIs of the application for accreditation for the first time should include several documents, including a copy of the law under which the institution was established, organizational structure, including the entire staff and annual budget, and a copy of its latest annual report, along with a detailed statement in which the institution shows aspects of its compliance with the Paris Principles, aspects of its non-compliance with these principles, and any proposals to ensure compliance. The documents referred to are submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights four months before the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Accreditation.


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