The Role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the Newly Established UN Human Rights Mechanisms; 15 November 2007; Seoul, Korea

A seminar hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) brought together national human rights institutions to discuss the new role they will play under recent changes to United Nations human rights system.

This greatly expanded role will allow national institutions to contribute to a broad range of discussions, debates and reviews before the United Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. It also presents new challenges, as the intensity and frequency of engagement with UN systems will increase significantly.

The seminar was an opportunity for representatives from national institutions to discuss their new roles and relationships with:

• the UN Human Rights Council
• the Universal Periodic Review, as well as development and monitoring of country reports
• the UN Advisory Committee
• the special procedures, and
• the treaty bodies

An Executive Summary is available on the NHRCK website.

His Excellency Mr. De Alba, former President of Human Rights Council, gave the keynote address to the seminar.

APF Deputy Director Pip Dargan also addressed the seminar and discussed the role of the APF and its members in helping build the new arrangements for national institutions within the United Nations.

The APF provides a training program for national institutions on their role and engagement under the new international human rights system.

Further training programs will be developed to address questions around special procedures, treaty bodies and the UPR, with advice and input provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.