The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) will convene its Bureau meeting from November 26-28, 2024, in Doha, Qatar. The meeting will be presided over by GANHRI Chairperson, Maryam Al-Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar.
Comprised of 16 members—four representatives from each regional networks—the Bureau serves as GANHRI’s executive committee and is responsible for implementing the General Assembly’s resolutions, developing organizational policies, and overseeing the organization’s programs and finance.
“The Bureau meeting is an essential moment to assess our progress, discuss challenges, and determine the best ways to strengthen NHRIs worldwide,” said Maryam Al Attiyah. “This work is critical to advancing human rights globally, and our collective strength as a Global Alliance makes it possible.”
The meeting will bring together members of the Bureau—including the Chairperson, Secretary, and Regional Chairpersons—along with representatives of the GANHRI Head Office the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Participants will explore strategies to support, protect and strengthen National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), including building compliance with the UN Paris Principles, and amplify their voices on the global stages. The discussions will aim to identify a clear path for supporting their work and foster enhanced collaboration and knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
Highlights of the meeting will include updates from regional networks and working groups, progress reports on activities, governance, and finance, discussions on maximizing collaboration, and the adoption of the 2025 draft work plan and provisional budget. The Bureau will also receive updates from GANHRI’s Sub Committee on Accreditation (SCA), and will discuss strategic priorities for the upcoming year and priority themes for GANHRI Annual Meeting, scheduled to take place in March 2025.
GANHRI and members of its Caucus on Indigenous Peoples contributed to the 19th session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), in Geneva from 13 to 17 July, addressing issues such as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and the approaching 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The twentieth anniversary of the Human Rights Council marks a significant milestone for the international human rights system. Over two decades, its work has helped shape global norms, strengthen accountability, and provide a platform for dialogue between States and stakeholders, including NHRIs.
From 15 June to 10 July 2026, GANHRI together with its members will engage at HRC62 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
GANHRI welcomes the statement by UN Special Rapporteurs expressing concern about the increasing attacks against NHRIs. The statement highlight the critical role NHRIs play in promoting and protecting human rights, including through their contributions to accountability, access to justice, and the effective functioning of democratic systems.