ICC PROGRESS REPORT

INTRODUCTION

This ICC Progress Report covers ICC activities undertaken during the period 1 September 2015 to 31 December 2015.

Purpose of the report

This ICC Progress Report reports against the 3 year ICC Strategic Plan 2014-2016 and 2015 Implementation Plan. The report sets out ICC’s activities during this period, and provides the basis to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ICC Strategic and Implementation Plans.

  • The ICC Progress Report reflects on theRecord of Decisions and the extent to which these decisions have been implemented.
  • The Progress Report further identifies highlights and challenges that will in turn inform further matters for discussion at the upcoming ICC Bureau meeting on 21st March 2016 in Geneva
  • Finally, this ICC Progress Report will together with other reports inform the content of the ICC Annual Report.

HIGHLIGHTS AND CHALLENGES

STRATEGIC GOAL 1

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

  1. ICC engagement with UN bodies in Geneva

Through its Geneva-based presence, the ICC advocates for NHRI participation in United Nations human rights mechanisms. The ICC provides continuous support to NHRIs that participate in Geneva-based human rights processes. This is done through advising and assisting NHRIs where required throughout their interactions with the Human Rights Council and its bodies and mechanisms including the Universal Periodic Review, and United Nations treaty bodies, as well as OHCHR sections which serve as secretariats to these bodies. This ICC support contributes towards strengthening NHRI engagement opportunities and effective interaction with UN human rights mechanisms.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • The ICC continued to engage with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to support the development of Guidelines on the participation of NHRIs and IMMs in the proceedings of the Committee.A consultation with ICC members on the scope and content of the Guidelines was conducted by the ICC and the final report submitted to ICC members and the CRPD Committee. This process will pave the way for greater certainty and clearer guidelines on interaction between the Committee and NHRIs.
  • A highlight was the ICC contributing as a panellist to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination hosted by the OHCHR and the CERD Committee in November.
  1. ICC engagement in New York

There are increasing opportunities for the ICC and its members to participate in human rights related processes that take place through the UN structures basedin New York.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • The major achievement of the period under review was the 2015 resolution on NHRIs was adopted by the General Assembly by consensus and with the broad cross-regional co-sponsorship of 90 UN member states. The resolution is important in that it amongst others:
  • recognises the role of NHRIs and their contributions to the United Nations system
  • encourages all relevant UN mechanisms and processes as well as UN agencies to enhance the participation of Paris Principles compliant NHRIs in their independent capacity in their work; and
  • Recognises that NHRIs should not be subject to reprisals or any other acts of intimidation.
  • Enormous time and efforts were put in by the ICC, its regional networks and individual NHRIs to ensure that there was active engagement in the process leading up to the adoption of the GA Resolution. The ICC Secretary conducted two missions to New York in support of this process, the second mission being made possible through the generous financial support of the APF.During his second mission to New York, he held meetings with several Permanent Missions including Germany, Korea, Argentina and key partners and stakeholders including UN Office of Legal Affairs, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs; UNDP; the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General; UN Women; OHCHR and the International Service for Human Rights.
  • In line with the UN Secretary General's report on NHRIs to the 70th General Assembly and ICC Position Paper developed in consultation with all ICC members the ICC's primary objectives where to support a resolution whereby the General Assembly would i) recognise the value of NHRI contributions at an international level and ii) request UN mechanisms to strengthen opportunities for the participation of Paris Principles compliant NHRIs, the ICC and regional networks in their work.
  • Going forward, the exciting challenge for the ICC and its members will be to take advantage of the increased possibilities for NHRI participation within the UN system and in particular these key UN mechanisms were identified as a priority, namely: the Commission on the Status of Women; the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the high level political forum. An ICC strategic engagement plan for Geneva and New York will be provided to the ICC Bureau meeting in March 2016 for discussion.The final NHRI resolution is available here

STRATEGIC GOAL 2

To build partnerships and engage external stakeholders

  1. Outreach to partners

The ICC works closely with its’ two strategic partners OHCHR-National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This relationship has been concretised though the Tripartite Partnership Agreement and annual partnership meetings are held each year, usually in June in New York. Through this partnership opportunities for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights through the ICC and its NHRI members are explored within each organisations respective mandates and Strategic Plans.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • Following discussions during the 5th Annual Strategic Partnership Review meeting of the Tripartite Partnership in June 2015, UNDP decided to support a knowledge management needs assessment for the ICC to inform the ICC strategy for knowledge management, as well as identify capacity building on knowledge management (KM) for NHRIs. The UNDP KM expert, Mr Johannes Schunter, conducted a mission to the ICC Office in Geneva from 9-13 November 2015. This joint project will continue in 2016 and promises to add much value to the ICC as well as strengthen its knowledge management processes and systems.
  • The highlight of this period was the 12th ICC International Conference held in October 2015 and which was hosted by the Mexican NHRI in Merida, Mexico. Preparations for this Conference were done in conjunction with NIRMS in their role as ICC Secretariat. This included coordinating and hosting Preparatory Committee Meetings, contributing towards the Conference’s concept not and the Merida Declaration, assisting in seeking and providing speakers at the Conference (including arranging for the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr. ZeidRa’ad Al Hussein to deliver a video statement) and generously providing financial support to several NHRIs enabling their participation at the Conference. UNDP was also actively involved in assisting and supporting in preparationsfor the ICC International Conference. The Mexican NHRI under the leadership of its President Luis Raul Gonzales - Perez together with his highly competent team were superb hosts and the Conference organisation and logistics were of an extremely high standard.
  1. Outreach to key stakeholders

The ICC regularly engages with a number of key stakeholders including the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) which has formalised the relationship by way of a Memorandum of Understanding. The ICC also engages regularly with relevant civil society organisations on a wide variety of matters.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • Cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and UNITAR for example continues in relation to the NHRI training on interaction with international human rights mechanisms which is scheduled for 2nd to 6th May 2016 and the e-learning module tool for NHRIs.
  • Cooperation with the New York-based office of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) was particularly meaningful during the negotiations of the NHRI resolution in New York.
  • A challenge in this area of work is the fact that there are many potential key stakeholders that wish to engage the ICC and that the potential of these engagements are limited by the human resource capacity within the ICC. Despite this, the area of work continues to yield high and positive results.
  1. Outreach to Regional Coordinating Committees

Regional Coordinating Committees are recognised in terms of the ICC Statute and form an integral and much needed part of the ICC’s structure assisting in ensuring communication and cooperation between the ICC and the NHRIs in the 4 different regions; namely Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. There is regular flow of communications between the ICC and the regions.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • The ICC was represented at the following regional meetings during the period under review
  • Conference on the Role of NHRIs in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situationsattended by ICC Geneva Representative, Ms Katharina Rose in Kyiv, Ukraine from 21st to 22nd October 2015 (Europe)
  • NANHRI Biennial Conference on Torture Prohibition and Prevention: Success, Challenges and the Role of African NHRIsattended by ICC Chair in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 21st – 23rd October 2015 (Africa)
  • Eastern Africa Regional Conference on Promoting Good Governance in Eastern Africa: the Role of NHRIsattended by ICC Assistant Liaison Officer, Ms Vivian John-Langba in Nairobi, Kenya from 6th to 9th December 2015 (Africa)
  • The ICC jointly hosted with the APF and the NHRI of South Korea an NHRI Special Session on the rights of Older Persons on 26 October 2015 on the margins of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference on Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons.
  • The Asia Pacific Forum (APF) provided financial support for the ICC Secretary, Prof Alan Miller to go on Mission to New York from 15th to 18th November 2015 where he held meetings with key partners and stakeholders to initiate support for the implementation process for the 2015 GA NHRI resolution.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3

To maintain and strengthen ICC accreditation processes (additional information supplemented by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) Report)

The accreditationprocess and the granting of the much coveted ‘A’ status is critical to the legitimacy of NHRIs within the UN system. NIRMS acts as the Secretariat for this process which occurs under the auspices of the OHCHR. The SCA continuously seeks ways to strengthen the process and ensures that the process is sufficiently stringent. The current SCA is ably chaired by Mr David Langtry of the Canadian NHRI. In the period under review an accreditation sessionwas held from 16th to 20th November 2016.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • A highlight of the period is the finalisation by the SCA in consultation with NIRMS of the draft ICC Statute amendments, draft amendments to the General Comments and Rules of Procedure as well as the issuing of 3 new draft Practice Notes. These will be considered at the Bureau meeting and were required by the annual General Meeting. It will bring to a culmination the outcomes of the Accreditation Roundtable held in March 2015.
  • The ICC is acutely aware of the enormous contribution of resources to the SCA process by NIRMS and the individual Committee members, NHRIs as well as the Regional Co-ordinators and ICC staff. In particular, the Canadian NHRI needs to be singled out and thanked for the support that it has provided for many years to the SCA. The ICC and NIRMS currently faces challenges of ensuring the resource sustainability of the process as well as ensuring that institutional knowledge of the process is retained when Canada’s term of office on the SCA comes to an end in 2017. This matter will be further addressed in the SCA Chairs report back to the Bureau.

STRATEGIC GOAL 4

To develop a sustainable and well managed ICC

  1. ICC meetings

In terms of the ICC Statute, the association hosts its annual General Meeting alongside the 1stHuman Rights Council Session each year; the ICC Bureau meets twice a year; and an International Conference is hosted every 2- 3 years. During this reporting period an ICC Bureau Meeting was held from 6th to 7th October 2015 and the 12th International ICC Conference entitled “The Sustainable Development Goals: What Role for NHRIs?” followed on 8-10th October 2015. Both events were generously hosted by the Mexican NHRI in Merida, Mexico.

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • Bureau Meeting

The Bureau Meeting received a report back received from the consultant Neil Gaught on the results and outcomes of the 1st Phase of the ICC Communications Project. After an organisation wide consultation process which received greater than expected responses and inputs a new Communications Strategy has been developed for the ICC. Part of this strategy includes a name change from ICC to Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. The Bureau endorsed Phase 1 of the Communications Project as well as the commencement of Stage 2 which will include the internal launch of the new name at the annual General Meeting in March 2016.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) provide a report back and update on the EU Project. Flowing from this update the Bureau decided that the ICC Chair, incoming ICC Chair, ICC Secretary and Regional Coordinators will oversee the further implementation of this Project on behalf of the Bureau. The Bureau also accepted the proposal that the EU funds should be used to strengthen the ICC Chairs Office.

  • 12th International ICC Conference

The Conference was held a few days after the adoption by States of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in New York in September 2015 and was the first international gathering to discuss the new Agenda. The Conference sought to assess the role of NHRIs in ensuring the successful implementation and monitoring of the SDGs. The Conference concluded with the adoption of the Mérida Declaration on the Role of NHRIs in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The ICC’s Working Group on SDGs made significant and valuable contributions towards the structuring and outcomes of the Conference assisting substantially with the Conference Concept Note and Declaration. The Working Group will continue to spearhead the ICC’s efforts in advocating for the inclusion of NHRIs not only in the implementation process but also as indicators under specific targets (For example, advocacy is required for the inclusion of an NHRI indicator under target 16.a “Existence of independent National Human Rights Institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles.).

  1. Membership

The ICC is a member based association that relies on membership fees for its operating costs and staff salaries. An important role of the ICC is to provide assistanceto new members and members under threat. With regards to the latter, the ICC consistently seeks to raise awareness that NHRIs must be allowed by States to undertake their duties without facing reprisals.

Improve systems and procedures for collection of membership fees

Achievement Highlights and Challenges

  • In 2015, 7 NHRIs paid outstanding fees from 2013 and 2014 and a total of 57/73 A-status NHRIs paid their membership fees including those that paid outstanding fees (78%). In addition 1 B status NHRI (Algeria) paid full membership fees for both 2014 and 2015. The challenge of ensuring that all A-status NHRIs pay membership fees still remainsdespite the best efforts of the ICC Chairperson to encourage payment or for members to apply for a fee waiver or reduction.
  • The ICC’s volume of work has grown dramatically in the past 3-4 years largely in part due to the increased recognition of NHRIs at an international level. It has become clear that to remain relevant the ICC is in urgent need of increased resources; in particular, human resources that can attend to the operations of the organisation, implement communications and knowledge management processes and most importantly raise additional funds from external sources.
  1. Finances and Fundraising

Due to the lack of dedicated finance staff, the ICCs accounting system is run by staff in the ICC Chairs South Africa office in conjunction with a Geneva based accounting firm and auditors. The Finance Sub-Committee oversees the association’s finances and is always available to assistand provide advice when required.

Achievements, Highlights and Challenges

  • Fundraising developments

The ICC is entering an exciting period in which the stage is set for it to take advantage of a number of funding opportunities. The EU Project is set to kick in during 2016 and there are also initial discussions taking place with UNDP within the context of the Tri partite relationship for initial seed monies to be made available and then for a joint process of securing significant donor funding.