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National Human Rights Institutions PDF Print E-mail

In practice, bodies classified as NHRIs can be grouped into two broad categories. i.e. Human Rights Commissions and ombudsmen. However, while must offices of ombudsmen are built around a single person, human rights commissions are multi-member committees representing variety of interest in the society. National human rights institution have an explicit and specific human rights mandate and often a broader mandate than the classical Ombudsman model, which also could include research, documentation and training and education in human rights issues.
One of the most important functions vested in many human rights commissions is to receive and investigate complaints from the public (individuals or groups) on alleged human rights abuses. While there are considerable differences in the procedures followed by various human rights commissions in the investigation and resolution of complaints, many rely on conciliation or arbitration. The bindingness of the findings of an NHRI depends on whether or not it is clothed with quasi judicial powers by its act.
National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) generally are government bodies established for the promotion and protection of human rights within their respective jurisdictions. Their nature and practice are generally expected to be in accordance with principles set out at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Paris on 7-9 October 1991, and adopted by United Nations Human Rights Commission Resolution 1992/54 of 1992 and General Assembly Resolution 48/134 of 1993.The Paris Principles basically emphasis the plurality and independence of the members of the NHRI. In most countries, the effectiveness and the degree of independence of these institutions depend upon the constitution or the national law establishing them.

In practice, bodies classified as NHRIs can be grouped into two broad categories. i.e. Human Rights Commissions and ombudsmen. However, while must offices of ombudsmen are built around a single person, human rights commissions are multi-member committees representing variety of interest in the society. National human rights institution have an explicit and specific human rights mandate and often a broader mandate than the classical Ombudsman model, which also could include research, documentation and training and education in human rights issues.

One of the most important functions vested in many human rights commissions is to receive and investigate complaints from the public (individuals or groups) on alleged human rights abuses. While there are considerable differences in the procedures followed by various human rights commissions in the investigation and resolution of complaints, many rely on conciliation or arbitration. The bindingness of the findings of an NHRI depends on whether or not it is clothed with quasi judicial powers by its act.