Ganhri Progress Report

GANHRI PROGRESS REPORT

1 September 2016 – 31 December 2016

The present progress report is submitted to the Bureau for consideration at its meeting on 6 March 2017 in Geneva.

The reportprovides highlights and developments against the Strategic Plan for the period 2014 to 2016 and the 2016 implementation plan, for the reporting period from 1 September to 31 December 2016.

The report is structured as follows:

1. Highlights against each of the Strategic Goals
2. Decisions for consideration by the Bureau on each of the Strategic Goals
3. Annexes

This report will be the last one under the 2014-2016 Strategic Plan, therebycompleting GANHRI’s progress reporting for the three-year period.

The progress and achievements documented in this report are the result of a collective effort from a number of actors within GANHRI, including the GANHRI Secretary, the Regional Chairpersons, the Bureau, the Chairperson and members of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation, the Chairperson and members of the Finance Committee, the Chairpersons and members of Working Groups, the Regional Coordinators, individual member institutions, GANHRI Special Envoys, as well as staff at GANHRI's Head office and within the Chairperson's office at the German Institute for Human Rights.

GANHRI also has enjoyed continued cooperation and support from its long-term strategic partners: the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the National Institutions, Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Section (NRCS) and the United Nations Development Programme and other partners, including civil society organisations, academia and other international organisations.

Further details on activities and projects are available and can be provided to Bureau members, separately.

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

Enhancing GANHRI engagement with international and regional human rights mechanisms to strengthen awareness-raising about the GANHRI and NHRIs

GANHRI works to promote greater recognition and participation of NHRIs at the international level, as well as to contribute as a collective voice of its members to discussions in these fora.

Throughout the reporting period, GANHRI in close coordination with regional networks and partners at the United Nations, has been leading advocacy on the implementation of theGeneral Assembly resolution 70/163 which calls for increased participation rights of A status NHRIs with United Nations mechanisms and processes, including the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Working Group on Ageing and the High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals.

As global voice of NHRIs, GANHRI was represented at, and contributed to, a number of key meetings and processes at the international level.

This includes:

the United Nations Summit for Refugees in September and the consultations hosted by the co-facilitators on the process to develop a Global Compact on Migration following the UN Summit in December.

TheHuman Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies

• 33rdsession of the Human Right Council
• the Human Rights Council Social Forum focusing on CRPD
• the Forum on Business and Human Rights

the 11th session of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the 10th anniversary celebration of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances

the 22nd Conference of State Parties to the Climate Convention in October, where GANHRI also hosted a side event in cooperation with the National Council for Human Rights of Morocco, to discuss the roles of NHRIs in bridging the climate, humanrights and sustainable development agendas.[1]

As a result of GANHRI advocacy, the 2016 Annual Meeting of Treaty Body Chairpersons in June 2016 decided to consider a harmonised approach for engagement with NHRIs. This decision was based on a Background Paper on Treaty Bodies and NHRIs which was developed by GANHRI in consultation with its members and which was presented by the GANHRI Chairperson to the Annual Meeting. GANHRI, in cooperation with OHCHR and the Geneva Academy and with the support of Australia's Permanent Mission, will host from 9 to 10 March 2017 a 2-day seminar bringing together members from treaty bodies and NHRIs from all regions, to consider a harmonised approach.The main conclusions of the event will be reflected into draftGuiding Principles for a common treaty body approachto then further be considered by the 29thMeeting of Treaty Body Chairpersons, in June 2017.[2]

In September, GANHRI and its members in all regions were successful in advocating for a strong Australia-led resolution on NHRIs at the Human Rights Council. The resolution, which was adopted by consensus with the support of more than 85 states from all regions, encourages treaty bodies to consider a harmonised approached to engagement with NHRIs and encourages all other UN bodies to continue their efforts in enhancing participation of NHRIs in their work. The resolution further calls on states to establish and strengthen NHRIs in all regions in line with the Paris Principles and provide them with adequate funding; and condemns reprisals and other acts of intimidation against NHRIs.[3]

The UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG)formalised NHRI participation by adopting alandmark decision[4]that will allow, starting at its next session in July 2017, Paris Principles accredited NHRIs to participate in, and contribute to, the OEWG deliberations on a future internationally binding instrument on the rights of older persons. The decision was adopted at the OEWG's 7th session in December 2016 following a proposal from the OEWG Chairperson, and was adopted by consensus. GANHRI’s advocacy efforts were led by the GANHRI WG on Ageing with the support of APF. These included among other activities, the organisation of a joint APF-GANHRI side event at the OEWG’s 7th session.

The Global Compact on Migration will set out a range of principles, commitments and understandings among States regarding international migration in all its dimensions. NHRIs can play a key role not only in the development of the global compact but also in encouraging and monitoring its implementation. As a result from coordinated advocacy efforts led by GANHRI, the final resolution on modalities for the Global Compact, as adopted in January 2017, formally recognises NHRIs as stakeholders in the process and allows for their as well as that of GANHRI and regional network's participation and contributions at all stages of the process. This provides new opportunities for GANHRI to inform the development of the Global Compact, its scope and process. Following a call for expression of interest, the GANHRI Chairperson will be designating one or more members to develop and coordinate a strategy for GANHRI's engagement in the development of the Global Compact.

GANHRI through its Geneva-based office has continued to assist NHRIs from all regions in their engagement at UN levels, including the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies.

Decision 1:

To request the Chairperson to develop a strategy for contribution to the OEWG, in consultation with the Bureau members, the GANHRI Working Group on Ageing and Special Envoy Florence Simbiri Jaoko, including the preparation of a report to contribute to the 2017 session’s theme.

Decision 2:

To request the Chairperson in consultation with the Special Envoys to develop a strategy for GANHRI’s contribution and engagement in the development of the UN Global Compact on Migration.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

Build partnerships and engage external stakeholders

Strengthening partnerships

GANHRI has strengthened its global tripartite partnership with OHCHR and UNDP.

As confirmed by the Bureau at its meeting in October 2016, the partnership will be formalised through a joint programme to support GANHRI, regional networks and individual NHRIs in all regions.

This programme is the result of a long-standing collaboration between the three partners entering into its 6th year of existence, and will be the framework for a more systematic engagement of coordinated support, for sustained results and impact.

In presentation of the programme to missions and other stakeholders represented in Geneva, GANHRI, UNDP and OHCHR will hold a joint high-level meeting on the 27th February 2017 (tbc), at the side of the high-LevelSegment of the 34thHuman Rights Council session.

Decision:

To request the Chairperson to continue mobilising resources, in partnership with OHCHR and UNDP and in collaboration with regional networks and Special Envoys, for the implementation of the joint programme in support of NHRIs.

GANHRI is conducting further activities as follows:

Preparations for the 2017 Training for NHRIs on the International Human Rights System, which GANHRI will co-organise again this year in May 2017 in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the OHCHR, are well under way. The training provides staff from NHRIs with knowledge of, and exposure to, international human rights mechanisms and the roles NHRIs can play therein. The training is open to all staff of NHRIs across all regions and is generously funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

In partnership with the Inter Parliamentary Union and the Graduate Institute for Human Rights, GANHRI has been developing aresearch project on NHRI reporting to Parliament. The project analyses global trends in NHRI reporting to Parliaments, including legislative basis for such reporting, presentation and considering of reports by Parliaments, and the level of follow-up by Parliaments on the recommendations made by NHRIs. The research also identifies case studies from various reasons as good practice. The project is ongoing.

GANHRI in collaboration with APF has commissioned a global study on NHRIs' experiences in addressing women's economic empowerment in the changing world. The study will be presented to the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women at a NHRI-hosted side event.

GANHRI participated at the annual FES-GIHR-Forum Menschenrechte Conference on the Human Rights Council, which took place on 10 and 11 October 2016 in Berlin.

GANHRI contributed to an expert meeting on strengthening the treaty body system, organised by the Geneva Academy from 8 to 10 December 2016.

In development of the cooperation between GANHRI and UNICEF, both organisations decided to host an event on the work of NHRIs and children’s rights following the GANHRI annual meeting in March 2017. In November 2016, GANHRI also participated at a seminar organized by UNICEF in New York on “National Human Rights Institutions & Accountability for Children”.

GANHRI participated at the high-level International Conference «Challenges for Ombudsman Institutions with respect to mixed migratory flows», held from 7–8 September 2016, in Tirana, Albania. The Conference was organised by the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen in partnership with the Association of Mediators and Ombudsmen of Francophonie, Federación Ibero Americana del Ombudsman and the International Institute of Ombudsman.

GANHRI contributed to the 11th International Ombudsman Institute World Conference, in Bangkok, Thailand from 14th to18th October 2016.

GANHRI Special Envoy Florence Simbiri-Jaoko and Geneva Representative, while in Geneva in December, met with UNHCR to explore the recent developments in migration, asylum and refugee matters. Discussions centred on how best these issues could be addressed as human rights issues and not just humanitarian crises. It was evident that NHRIs could contribute immensely to the work of UNCHR by collaboration and corporation at the national level and where appropriate by upscaling concerns to the regional and international level through their mandate in monitoring state compliance as well as in addressing violations through their complaints mechanisms. GANHRI is exploring how it can contribute to the Global Compact on Refugees.

GANHRI held regular meetings and liaised with civil society and other key stakeholders through the reporting period, including: APT, ISHR, Geneva for Human Rights, Child Rights Connect, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, CCPR Centre, and UPR Info.

The GANHRI Chairperson and GANHRI staff engaged on a regular basis with the various Regional Networks. Interaction with the Regional Networks and individual NHRIs is on a continuous basis in relation to all aspects of GANHRI’s work. This section will merely note several examples not already mentioned elsewhere in this report:

APF Annual Conference in Bangkok, 26/27 October, represented by GANHRI Special Envoy Alan Miller.

Regional consultation for Central Asia NHRIs, Istanbul, November 28/29, held by UNDP, represented by GANHRI Special Envoy Alan Miller.

Regional consultation of European and Arab NNRIs on the SDGs, Istanbul, December 5, held by UNDP, ENNHRI AND ANNHRI, represented by GANHRI Special Envoy Alan Miller.

ENNHRI General Meeting, Zagreb, 26-28 October.

International Conference on the roles of NHRIs in conflict and post-conflict situations, held in Kiev in October.[5]

GANHRI has received an invitation to join the Global Alliance for reporting progress on promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Global Alliance is a network of member states, civil society and business that is facilitated by UNDP in coordination with other partners across the UN system. The Global Alliance provides a coordinating platform of support to member states for effective and meaningful reporting on progress toward peaceful, just and inclusive societies, including the achievement of SDG 16 and its links to entire 2030 Agenda. NHRIs are an indicator on the Goal 16 and having a strong Paris-Principles complying NHRI would have an amplifying impact across the agenda. Further information on the Global Alliance are included in the Annex I.

GANHRI has received an invitation to join the Inter Agency Working Group to End Child Immigration Detention. Inspired by the CRC Committee’s leadership, a number of key stakeholders have agreed that ending child immigration detention is an urgent matter of priority and that coordinated action is necessary. In March 2014, an initial, informal meeting was hosted by OHCHR and the International Detention Coalition (IDC) in Geneva, Switzerland. Following this meeting, the participants agreed to form an Inter-Agency Working Group in order to more effectively collaborate and work together to end child immigration detention. Over the past two years, the IAWG has been a critical space for international human rights experts and civil society organizations to come together to share our work, promote solutions, and provide technical support to States seeking to make a change in their detention practices. Further information on the IAWG, including background note and ToR are included in the Annexes II.a & II.b

Decision 1:

That the Bureau requests the Chairperson to initiate the process for GANHRI to become member of the Global Alliancefor reporting progress on promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

Decision 2:

That the Bureau requests the Chairperson to initiate the process for GANHRI to become member of the IAWG.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3

Maintain and strengthen the GANHRI accreditation processes

Core to the mandate of GANHRI is accrediting national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in line with the Paris Principles:

During the reporting period, the Sub Committee on Accreditation (SCA) met in November for a week-long session, to review the accreditation of more than 15 NHRIs from all regions.

As at December 2016, GANHRI counts with 74 NHRIs accredited with A status in full compliance with the Paris Principles and 33 NHRIs with B status. Our membership continues to grow from diverse regions of the world.

More NHRIs than ever before are seeking accreditation. In 2016, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) considered accreditation applications from six (6) new institutions and twenty-four (24) institutions seeking periodic re-accreditation. It also conducted two (2) Special Reviews and considered a range of additional issues.

The SCA continues to take steps to improve the accreditation process by ensuring enhanced rigour and transparency. To this end, it has proposed comprehensive amendments to the GANHRI Statute and its Rules of Procedure, drafted revisions to the General Observations, and developed four (4) new practice notes to provide guidance relating to deferrals, the initiation of Special Reviews, assessing the performance of NHRIs, and NHRIs in transition.

For the first time ever, the GANHRI Bureau considered during its meeting in October 2016 two challenges to the accreditation recommendation of the SCA, which had received sufficient support of Bureau members. The Bureau decided to apply the GANHRI Chair’s proposal for a procedure and requested the Chair to prepare draft Rules of Procedure for dealing with this situation in light of the experience made at the October 2016 meeting for adoption by the Bureau at its next meeting.

The SCA continues to face significant resource challenges. Members use their own institutional resources (human and financial) to prepare for and participate in two (2) in-person meetings per year, as well as to provide support and guidance on the accreditation process to NHRIs in their region. The unavailability of financial assistance and material support – including translation services – limits the ability of all NHRIs to serve as the representative of their region on the SCA.

The National Institutions, Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Section of OHCHR (OHCHR) continues to provide professional support as the SCA’s Secretariat. It, too, faces significant resource challenges. This has impacted the SCA’s ability to consider new accreditation applications in a timely manner and to ensure that periodic re-accreditation reviews take place as scheduled.

Decision:

That the Bureau notes the significant resource challenges that the SCA continues to face.

STRATEGIC GOAL 4

To develop a sustainable and well-managed GANHRI

Highlights and Challenges

1. GANHRI meetings

During this reporting period the GANHRI Bureau met once on 12-14 October 2016 in Berlin (see RoD-Doc. 2, for more details).