GANHRI and partners conclude training on UN human rights mechanisms for 15 NHRIs from across the globe
Geneva 17 May 2021 – Representatives from 15 NHRIs from around the world participated in this year’s training, from 26 April to 13 May which was held for the first time in a virtual format in the global COVID-19 pandemic context.
International engagement is a key requirement for a national human rights institution as set out in the United Nations Paris Principles. NHRIs have a central bridging role: reporting to UN human rights mechanisms the national human rights situation on the ground and promoting implementation of international human rights norms and standards and relevant UN recommendations at national and local level.
The training supports NHRIs build their understanding of the functioning of UN human rights mechanisms and identifying concrete opportunities for NHRIs’ effective engagement.
Through interactive tools and activity sessions, both online and offline, participants acquired knowledge and skills specifically on Treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures. Participants also took part in a simulation on effective UPR report writing and designing follow-up strategies for implementation of UN recommendations.
Multiple networking activities allowed NHRI representatives to share experiences and collectively identify good practices for engagement at the international level with UN human rights mechanisms and therefore strengthen their mandate in their respective countries.
The sessions have been enriched by the participation of GANHRI’s partners: the Association for the Prevention of Torture, the Centre for Civil and Political Rights, the Geneva Academy, Geneva for Human Rights, OHCHR and UPR Info. They all contributed to inform training sessions with their experience and expertise providing participants relevant information and useful advice on how to fully leverage the mechanisms put in place to protect and promote human rights.
“I learnt a lot during this training, and I am already sharing these good practices with my colleagues. Now I am definitely more confident in engaging with the UN Human rights mechanisms in particular the UPR” said one of the participants
Since 2015, GANHRI partners with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to deliver this annual learning training program for national human rights institutions (NHRIs) on the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
The next training for NHRIs on the United Nations human rights system will take place in 2022 in Geneva. Further information will be made available on the GANHRI webpage at the end of 2021.