What are NHRIs?

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) are organisations established by government with the specific purpose of promoting and protecting human rights at the country level.

Their role generally includes addressing discrimination in all its forms, as well as upholding civil and political rights.

Some NHRIs may also have a mandate to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights, while others operate like an Ombudsman and have powers to investigate allegations of corruption.

Effective NHRIs can help bridge the 'protection gap' between the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of the State.

They are either established by legislation or incorporated into the Constitution of a nation. However, they operate and function independently from government.

As such, they occupy a unique place between government and civil society.

The first NHRIs were established in the 1970s, with growing numbers established in the following decades. Today there are well over 100 NHRIs operating around the world.

Visit the website of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for a global directory of NHRIs.

Common functions

While no two national human rights institutions are the same, they share common functions such as:

• monitoring the State to ensure that it meets its international and domestic human rights commitments
• receiving, investigating and resolving complaints of human rights violations, and
• raising awareness and providing human rights education for all parts of the community.

The Paris Principles set out the minimum international standards required for national human rights institutions to effectively fulfil their role.

They include the need for a broad-based mandate; guarantees of independence; autonomy from government; pluralism of members and staff; adequate powers of investigation; and adequate resources.

Our role

The APF provides advice, on request, to governments and civil society organisations in the region on the nature and status of national human rights institutions. This includes advice on establishing an institution that complies with the Paris Principles.

We also provide services and support for our member institutions so they can be as effective as possible and continue to meet the standards set out in the Paris Principles.