New GANHRI research shows how NHRIs are essential for effective national human rights mechanisms

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) play a critical role in supporting governments to establish and strengthen national mechanisms for implementing international human rights obligations, according to a new report and position paper released by GANHRI today.

The research, drawing on detailed responses from 58 GANHRI members across Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, examines how NHRIs work with national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow up (NMIRFs) to translate international commitments into national action.

The report reveals that 39 NHRIs operate in countries with existing or developing NMIRFs, highlighting the growing global momentum around these government coordination mechanisms. Approximately 70 NMIRFs are now established worldwide, with an International Network of NMIRFs launched in May 2024.

GANHRI’s survey found that NHRIs contribute to NMIRFs through: advocating for their establishment; providing technical expertise and capacity-building; facilitating meaningful consultations with civil society actors; contributing to state reporting processes; and independently monitoring implementation progress.

However, challenges persist including reliance on ad-hoc mechanisms, limited technical expertise, insufficient civil society engagement, and concerns about focusing on procedural compliance rather than substantive human rights improvements.

“NHRIs and NMIRFs have distinct but complementary mandates within national human rights systems,” said GANHRI Chairperson Amina Bouayach. “While maintaining their independence, NHRIs provide essential human rights expertise to help governments establish effective, transparent and participatory approaches to implementing international obligations.”

This recognition of the distinct yet complementary roles of NHRIs and NMIRFs is echoed by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 57/32, which underscores the importance of technical cooperation and capacity-building in support of stronger national human rights protection systems.

The importance of NHRI engagement in NMIRF processes was also highlighted during GANHRI’s participation in the tenth Glion Human Rights Dialogue, in Morocco in October 2024. The dialogue, organized by the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights of Morocco and the Universal Rights Group (URG), in collaboration with the National Human Rights Council of Morocco (CNDH), recognized the important contributions of NHRIs and civil society organizations into the work of NMIRFs (see outcome document).

The position paper includes six key recommendations for States:

• Adopting sustainable, coordinated and transparent approaches to reporting, follow-up and implementation that prioritize implementation over simple compliance with reporting obligations.
• Recognizing distinct but complementary mandates of NHRIs and NMIRFs while fostering collaboration and emphasizing that the establishment of NMIRFs cannot replace the creation of independent and well-resourced NHRIs.
• Establishing meaningful consultation processes to ensure effective participation of NHRIs, civil society, and rights-holders in all stages of NMIRF set-up and operations.
• Ensuring NHRIs and civil society can effectively contribute to all stages of NMIRF work while preserving their independence and enabling them to operate free from reprisals.
• Respecting and preserving NHRI and civil society independence.
• Continuing to establish and strengthen NHRIs in line with the Paris Principles.

The publications form part of GANHRI’s work to strengthen national human rights protection systems and support the goal of establishing Paris Principles-compliant NHRIs in all 193 UN Member States by 2030.*

* Editorial note: As of July 2025, 90 of the 193 UN Member States currently have established a Paris Principles-compliant NHRI.