Latest news with #ParisPrinciples
Mada
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mada
Former rights council member: Moushira Khattab's resignation is ‘belated attempt' to sidestep poor performance
Moushira Khattab has stepped down as president of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) as she intends to pursue a role at an international institution, the council announced on Sunday. Former council member Nasser Amin, however, described the move to Mada Masr as a belated attempt by Khattab to 'wash her hands' of what he said was the council's worst performance in two decades. The council was reconstituted by presidential decree in 2021, as the government worked to stage a shift in how it handles rights and political representation, launching a national human rights strategy, reopening the council, which is tasked with nominating prisoners to the president for amnesty among other roles, and beginning the National Dialogue as a forum for political dialogue. In a phone call with Mada Masr, Khattab declined to comment on the statement or name the international institution she intends to join. A source close to the former council head, however, denied to Mada Masr that her resignation had nothing to do with Khattab's future career plans. Since Khattab has already had a long career, an international appointment is unlikely, the source continued. They described her resignation instead as a long overdue development, adding that through her four-year tenure on the council Khattab has repeatedly voiced frustration over her inability to effect meaningful change in any of its human rights working files. The source cited Khattab's repeated but unsuccessful attempts to amend the law that governs the council in order to elevate its international ranking, as well as several requests she made to visit prisons which were ultimately rejected. Prison visits are permitted rarely, and often only to limited areas of specific facilities under authorities' supervision. The source put the lack of achievements down to the council's political position, describing it as lacking any real leverage. Its recommendations are often ignored, they added. Khattab was also increasingly troubled by the frequent criticism directed at her from various circles, the source said. Amin, who also heads the Arab Center for the Independence of Judiciary and Legal Professions, warned that the council is very likely to face a downgrade in its international ranking by the end of the year, citing its lack of independence and retreat from its monitoring and advocacy role. 'The talk of her seeking an international post is more wishful thinking than reality,' he said. On November 20 last year, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) at the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) recommended the council be downgraded to B status, raising serious concerns about its compliance with the Paris Principles — particularly in terms of its independence, effectiveness and transparency. The SCA flagged the lack of transparency and public participation in the appointment of council members — who are selected by the executive arm of the government — as a factor undermining the body's autonomy and ability to operate free from government interference. It also criticized the council's inadequate response to major human rights concerns, including torture, enforced disappearances, conditions of arbitrary detention, as well as with regard to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. The committee also called for sweeping reforms to bring the council in line with the Paris Principles, including measures to reinforce its independence, amend its appointment mechanism, improve its response to human rights violations and ensure regular distribution of public reports for civil society and other actors to access. Khattab has previously pushed back against claims that the council lacks independence. In a televised interview in September 2024, she said the council had submitted a request for a presidential pardon for writer and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, but claimed that the council had been drawn into the issue of its pending downgrade by a complaint questioning the council's independence filed by the writer's father-in-law, prominent human rights advocate Bahey Eddin Hassan. Domestic and international calls are currently mounting for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon the detained activist and writer — whose mother is now hospitalized in critical condition 246 days into a hunger strike. Khattab had confined her efforts as council head to 'safe zones,' Amin said. She focused on awareness-raising and human rights education while steering clear of applying legal and human rights standards to document violations. Instead, he added, she echoed the narrative advanced by the state and its security agencies. The constitution grants the NCHR the power to represent victims in court — a power exercised by previous iterations of the council, including in the case of activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh's killing. The current council, however, has ignored this mandate, which Amin said was a hard-earned achievement of earlier efforts. Vice President Mahmoud Karem assumed Khattab's responsibilities as of Saturday, the council's statement said, and he will continue in the role until its term ends on December 27. Sisi reconstituted the council under Khattab's leadership in December 2021 for a four-year term. Under recent amendments to the law governing the NCHR, the House of Representatives is permitted to begin forming a new council two months ahead of the current term's expiration. Nominations are to be submitted by universities, syndicates and other institutions, after which the president and members are selected and approved via presidential decree.
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
35 Years of CNDH: Morocco Reaffirms Commitment to Human Rights
Rabat – 35 years ago, Morocco took a bold step. Long before global standards emerged, the country established its first national human rights institution on May 8, 1990, laying the groundwork for what would become a key pillar in its governance landscape. This week, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) marks that turning point. The anniversary speaks not only to the passage of time, but to the country's steady shift toward greater accountability, justice, and rights protection. The Council's president, Amina Bouayach, sees this moment as more than symbolic. 'We are looking back on a path of transformation, but also of construction. Morocco changes constantly, so must we,' she said. What began as a modest advisory body has grown into a constitutional institution with regional branches and a far-reaching mandate. Since 2018, the Council has operated with expanded powers to address violations, support victims, and defend freedoms. Morocco had already taken this path in the early 1990s, three years before the UN adopted the Paris Principles that define how human rights institutions should function. That early move, Bouayach said, reflected a national decision to address past abuses and build a system based on truth, justice, and reconciliation. The country marked the 20th anniversary of that process earlier this year. Over the years, the Council has played a role in major reforms: from restructuring the justice system and revising the Constitution to observing elections and launching discussions around Morocco's Family Code. 'We are not outside of national dynamics, we stand in the middle of them,' Bouayach explained. Under the slogan '35 Years: Rights. Freedoms. Effectiveness', the Council plans to mark the anniversary throughout 2025. The goal is to reinforce the rule of law, support victims where needed, and ensure that rights do not remain theoretical but become real and enforceable. Morocco's human rights body asserts that it stands on principles of independence and accountability. But it also carries a story, one of political will, institutional learning, and the belief that no reform holds weight unless it protects human dignity. Tags: CNDHCNDH Morocochuman rightsmorocco human rights
The Print
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
From Manipur to concerns about autonomy, why India's human rights watchdog NHRC faces downgrade
The recommendation, made during GANHRI's 45th session in March, will not take effect before 2026, giving the NHRC time to implement reforms. The NHRC's accreditation has already been deferred two years in a row since 2023 because of unresolved concerns from earlier reviews over issues such as lack of independence, inadequate diversity, appointment transparency and limited engagement with civil society. The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), through its Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), has advised reducing the NHRC's rating from 'A' to 'B' status, citing concerns about the commission's independence and lack of full compliance with international standards. New Delhi: A United Nations-linked body has recommended downgrading the accreditation status of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a move that could strip the institution of its voting rights in key international human rights forums and diminish the country's role in global human rights discussions. Some of the key issues flagged by the SCA in its latest report include the involvement of police officers in NHRC investigations, the government's role in appointing the Secretary General and inadequate responses to human rights violations, notably in Manipur. The SCA also criticised the NHRC's appointment processes, lack of diversity—particularly gender and minority representation—and insufficient engagement with civil society. 'The SCA emphasises that the GANHRI accreditation system is a peer review mechanism which requires NHRIs to maintain their independence. In view of the information before it, the SCA is concerned that the institution's independence and effectiveness has not been sufficiently maintained in line with the requirements of the Paris Principles,' GANHRI said in the report. 'The SCA, in receipt of third-party information during its previous sessions, was concerned that the NHRC was not demonstrating adequate efforts to address human rights violations at a systemic level, nor has the institution spoken out on these issues in a manner that promotes and protects all human rights.' An independent international network, GANHRI oversees the accreditation and review of around 120 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) to ensure they meet the standards set out in the Paris Principles adopted by the UN in 1993. It currently recognises 88 institutions with 'A' status and 32 with 'B' status. Only 'A'-rated bodies are allowed to vote, hold leadership roles and directly participate in UN Human Rights Council proceedings. As of 23 April, 2025, the SCA's recommendations remain under review after the NHRC lodged a formal challenge under GANHRI's internal appeal process. Established in 1993, the NHRC received its first accreditation in 1999. It was granted 'A' status in 2006, reflecting full compliance with the Paris Principles, and successfully retained this status during its next review in 2011. However, during a 2016 review, the SCA deferred the NHRC's re-accreditation—and postponed making a final decision on the NHRC's status due to unresolved concerns. The delay was due to concerns such as the process of appointing representatives and the lack of gender balance and diversity within the NHRC's staffing. Despite these issues, the SCA ultimately reinstated the NHRC's 'A' status in 2017. Also Read: National human rights body calls for scrutiny of Amazon warehouse labour practices Concerns flagged by SCA The SCA raised multiple concerns about India's NHRC in its downgrade recommendations. One of the issues it flagged was the involvement of police officers in investigations. The SCA expressed concern over Section 11 of the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, which mandates the central government to provide police officers, including high-ranking ones, to assist the NHRC. The SCA believes this arrangement raises serious issues of perceived or actual conflict of interest, especially when allegations of human rights violations involve the police themselves. Such involvement can undermine the impartiality of investigations and restrict victims' access to justice. While the NHRC responded by highlighting internal efforts to select non-police personnel and clarified that officers are not appointed without its approval, the SCA found these measures inadequate. It emphasised the need to amend Section 11 to fully eliminate the government's role in seconding police officers for investigative duties. The SCA also expressed concern about the NHRC's response to human rights violations. It said that the Commission was not sufficiently vocal or proactive in addressing widespread or systematic human rights violations in India. Specific issues included shrinking civic space, targeting of human rights defenders and journalists, police abuses, custodial deaths, and weak follow-up on recommendations. 'The SCA noted that while the NHRC has reported that it has taken cognizance of cases of human rights violations against human rights defenders and journalists and reconstituted its core working group on civil society, the SCA is concerned the NHRC has not provided adequate information about how they are addressing the shrinking civic space and increased instances of targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and perceived critics,' it said. 'The SCA is also concerned that the NHRC has not publicly communicated its positions on these issues in a way that promotes the credibility of the institution and addresses the systemic nature of these violations.' Although the NHRC listed various actions and investigations, including its handling of hate speech and minority issues, and stated that it works closely with state human rights commissions, the SCA concluded that the response was still lacking. It stressed the need for the NHRC to take a more public and assertive stance in defending human rights and ensuring accountability. The SCA also raised concerns about the NHRC's lack of action in Manipur on human rights abuses since May 2023. It said that despite widespread violence—including over 200 deaths, the displacement of nearly 60,000 people, reports of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and torture—the Commission did not conduct any on-ground investigation until the Supreme Court intervened in July 2023 and initiated its own inquiry. The SCA added that the NHRC was excluded from this judicial inquiry. Following this, the NHRC registered 25 cases related to rights violations in Manipur and recommended compensation. The appointment of the Secretary General was another critical issue the SCA raised. The SCA expressed concern about the government's role in appointing the NHRC's Secretary General, a senior official critical to the Commission's operations. The current structure allows the central government to assign a senior civil servant to this position, which, according to the SCA, raises doubts about the NHRC's independence. Although the NHRC defended the practice—arguing that a senior officer is necessary to effectively coordinate with government agencies and that the current Secretary General is a retired civil servant under its control—the SCA insisted the risk of external influence remains. It recommended that the NHRC be empowered to recruit the Secretary General independently through amendments to the PHRA. Lack of pluralism and gender diversity was one of the reasons cited for the downgrade recommendation. The SCA flagged the NHRC's lack of diversity, particularly the underrepresentation of women and minority communities. As of March 2025, only one of six standing commissioner positions was held by a woman, and a significant gender imbalance persisted among the staff—246 men to just 93 women. Furthermore, two commissioner positions remained vacant. While the NHRC cited recent efforts to improve gender representation in recruitment and stated its commitment to pluralism, the SCA concluded that these actions were not enough. It urged the NHRC to actively promote diversity in leadership and staffing and to continue pushing for legislative reforms that ensure equitable representation. The SCA raised concerns about the transparency and inclusiveness of the NHRC's leadership appointment process. While under Section 4 of the PHRA, appointments are made by the President based on recommendations from a committee of elected officials, the process lacks requirements for advertising vacancies or broader consultations with stakeholders. The NHRC defended its process as participatory, arguing that nominations are open and that public advertisements might deter qualified candidates. It argued that high-level appointments in India, especially in bodies like the NHRC, have historically followed a closed-door nomination and consultation model, where names are proposed by political leadership or peers, as there are concerns about public scrutiny and prestige. However, the SCA maintained that a clear, participatory and merit-based appointment process in law or regulations is essential for public trust and institutional independence. Another issue it highlighted was the NHRC's engagement with civil society. The SCA emphasised the importance of meaningful, ongoing cooperation with civil society and human rights defenders. It said it found the NHRC's engagement with NGOs and civil society groups insufficiently robust and inclusive. 'The SCA, taking note of third-party information, the response of the NHRC and other information before it, also recommended that the NHRC takes additional steps to ensure constructive engagement and cooperation with civil society and HRDs, and address systemic violations of human rights while ensuring effective follow up with the state and making its positions publicly available,' said the report. The NHRC said such criticism came from a limited number of NGOs and that it maintains constructive relations with many organisations. However, drawing on broad civil society inputs, the SCA remained unconvinced. It recommended that the NHRC take stronger steps to build regular and open dialogue with a wide range of civil society actors beyond formal settings. What is GANHRI accreditation system The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has an official partnership with GANHRI and its activities are aligned with UN standards, particularly the Paris Principles. GANHRI's accreditation process, conducted every five years by its SCA, assigns each NHRI a status based on its level of compliance: 'A' status signifies full adherence to the Paris Principles, while 'B' status reflects partial compliance. 'A' status grants institutions full participation rights in both international and regional NHRI activities. They can vote, hold leadership roles within GANHRI's Bureau and its sub-committees, and actively engage in the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council. This includes speaking during agenda items, submitting documentation and having designated seating. On the other hand, 'B' status institutions can attend international and regional meetings as observers but do not have voting rights and cannot assume leadership roles. They are also restricted from participating directly in the UNHRC sessions—they cannot take the floor, submit documents or receive NHRI-specific badges. At the UNHRC, 'A' status NHRIs receive special accreditation badges that grant them designated seating and access to certain restricted areas, while 'B' status bodies get observer-only access, which significantly reduces their visibility and influence in UN processes. The Paris Principles, endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, serve as the international benchmark for the functioning of NHRIs. These principles outline the dual role of NHRIs: to protect and promote human rights. Protection involves handling complaints, conducting investigations, resolving disputes, mediating conflicts and monitoring various human rights issues. NHRIs are assessed by GANHRI based on six key criteria: a broad human rights mandate, independence from government, legal or constitutional guarantees of autonomy, pluralistic representation, sufficient resources and strong investigative powers. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: UN-linked body defers NHRC accreditation for 2nd yr in a row, human rights defenders 'not surprised'
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
UN-linked body has recommended for downgrading NHRC's accreditation: NGO
MADURAI: The Sub Committee of Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), a Geneva-based, UN-linked body, has recommended downgrading the accreditation of India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to 'B' from 'A', expressing concerns over its independence and effectiveness in conforming with international norms, said Henri Tiphagne, the executive director of NGO People's Watch, on Saturday. Addressing media persons in Madurai, Tiphagne said the NHRC involving police officers in its investigations, lack of transparency in other appointments, and failure in addressing various human rights violations are reasons cited for the commission's downgrade. Though the SCA of GANHRI stated it gave several chances to the NHRC to rectify the above issues by deferring its accreditation for two consecutive years, it added sufficient steps were not taken to implement the suggestions. Calling it a big blow to the country and the commission, Tiphagne blamed the inaction of the commission during the chairmanship of Justices HL Dattu and Arun Mishra. The NHRC has appealed against the decision and the same is pending, he added. Tiphagne, however, expressed hope that the current chairman, Justice V Ramasubramanian, would do the needful to retain the 'A' status. Meanwhile, the SCA stated in its report that as per GANHRI statutes, a recommendation to downgrade does not take effect for a period of one year. This allows an opportunity for the NHRC to provide the documentary evidence necessary to establish its continued conformity with the Paris Principles, it added.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Recommendation to downgrade NHRC status a setback'
The Sub-committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) recommending National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be downgraded to B status was a setback to the country, said People's Watch Executive Director Henri Tiphagne in a press meet here on Saturday. The recommendation had been challenged, he said. Mr. Henri Tiphagne said that India had set up several commissions to look into various issues for the welfare of the people and the number of commissions was among the highest in the World. The NHRC accreditation had been deferred at least three times and never downgraded. Grade A reflected compliance with the Paris Principles, he said. The SCA expressed concern that the institution's independence and effectiveness had not been sufficiently maintained in line with the requirements of the Paris Principles. The SCA also noted attempts by Indian authorities to engage members of the SCA relative to the accreditation process, including the involvement of various foreign missions. The SCA emphasised that the GANHRI accreditation system was a peer-review mechanism which required NHRIs to maintain their independence, he said. The SCA noted that the involvement of police officers in the investigation of human rights violations cases posed a concern. The SCA was concerned that the composition of the membership of the NHRC and the composition of the staff was not sufficient to meet the pluralism requirements of the Paris Principles. The selection process and appointments should be proper, he said. The NHRC should act independently and speak out, he said, adding that it did not do so in several issues. In the Manipur issue, it had remained a mute spectator, he charged. It should function as an independent organisation and be strengthened, he said, adding that the institution should function with the civil societies and speak for the civil liberties.
