Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

Which NHRIs can request support?

GANHRI provides support to all NHRIs across the world upon request.

Brief presentation

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is the worldwide membership-based network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs).

GANHRI promotes and strengthens NHRIs to be in compliance with the Paris Principles and provides leadership for the promotion and protection of human rights. GANHRI provides a framework for NHRIs to work together and cooperate at the international level and coordinates a wide range of activities, including annual meetings, international conferences, networks, training and capacity building.

GANHRI works in close partnership with the United Nations Human Rights Office – specifically with the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS) – and with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). GANHRI also works closely with the four regional networks of NHRIs, in Africa (NANHRI), the Americas (RINDHCA), the Asia Pacific (APF) and Europe (ENNHRI).

GANHRI is registered in Switzerland as a not-for-profit association and its Head Office is located in Geneva at the Palais des Nations.

Scope of the action

GANHRI has a global mandate to act to protect the independence of all NHRIs, irrespective of accreditation status and geographical scope, under attack for undertaking their work according to their mandate. The support extends from the early warning to crisis situation and follow up.

GANHRI’s mandate to support NHRIs is intrinsically linked to the Paris Principles, including their interpretation in the General Observations.

GANHRI may intervene in any context and in response to any situation that might threaten NHRIs irrespective of the nature and the author of a threat.

GANHRI has received, and expressed concern over, reports of reprisals and other acts of intimidation which NHRIs, their members and staff across all regions have faced for undertaking human rights work in accordance with their mandate, including because of their cooperation with the United Nations. GANHRI follows specific procedures when threats result from the cooperation of an NHRI with the United Nations.

GANHRI supports NHRIs in engaging safely and effectively with international human rights mechanisms, enabling them to raise concerns and advocate for their own protection as well as that of other human rights defenders. This includes providing its members under threat or facing reprisals with individual, targeted advice on engagement with relevant UN mechanisms and bodies, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are safeguarded.

Following discussions with GANHRI members at GANHRI 2024, a guidance note is being developed to assist NHRIs in engaging the UN system on issues of threats and reprisals.

GANHRI is operating in strict application of the “do no further harm” principle. This implies inter alia that GANHRI intervenes only based on the prior, express, and informed consent of the NHRI and members and staff concerned and ongoing consultation with the NHRI.

Under particular circumstances, especially involving physical threats against members or staff of an NHRI, or where the author of a threat are non-state actors, the impact of GANHRI’s actions to support the NHRI concerned may be limited.

Support to NHRIs under threat

☑ Public support
☑ Private and diplomatic engagement
☑ Policy recommendations
☐ Legal opinions
☑ In-country missions
☐ Funding and direct support
☑ Other actions

Where GANHRI members request it, GANHRI mobilises support for its members facing attacks and reprisals and bring cases of alleged intimidation and reprisals against NHRIs to the attention of relevant UN mechanisms and officials, including the UN Assistant Secretary General, the President of the Human Rights Council and UN treaty bodies, UN independent experts, as well as NGOs, and call for effective preventative measures and responses to alleged cases of reprisals.

How to access support

NHRIs in a need of support are encouraged to contact the GANHRI Head Office:

GANHRI Geneva Representative Katharina Rose – k.rose@ganhri.org
Cc GANHRI Legal Officer Nikoleta Bitterová – n.bitterova@ganhri.org

Examples of past support

NHRIs undertaking human rights work in accordance with their mandate, including as a result of their cooperation with the United Nations, continue to experience reprisals in the form of smear campaigns, harassment, threats and acts of intimidation, restriction to freedom of expression (online and offline), restriction to the right to peaceful assembly, political pressure, undue interference with the selection, appointment and dismissal process of members of a NHRI, disproportionate budget cuts, and lack of recognition of the NHRI’s mandate or lack of cooperation with the NHRI.

GANHRI advocates for a strong legal and policy framework for national human rights institutions, which includes advocating for strong and consensual resolutions, both at the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, highlighting the important role of NHRIs and calling for their support and protection.

Ahead of the Summit of the Future, GANHRI, in its Human Rights Call, highlighted rise in threats, intimidation, and reprisals against NHRIs, civil society, human rights defenders, and other human rights actors as a result of their work to promote and protect fundamental freedoms. GANHRI called on States to take all necessary measures to protect NHRIs and other relevant actors when carrying out their legitimate activities. The Outcome Declaration of the Summit of the Future reinforced this by making a critical reference to the need to protect NHRIs from intimidation and reprisals.

Most recently, Human Rights Council Resolution 57/23, (A/HRC/RES/57/23) led by Australia and Timor Leste and adopted by consensus at the Council’s 57th session emphasized that NHRIs should be well-resourced and not face reprisals or intimidation for undertaking work in accordance with their mandate. It calls on States to promptly and thoroughly investigate cases of alleged reprisal or intimidation against members or staff of national human rights institutions or against individuals who cooperate or seek to cooperate with them and to bring perpetrators to justice.

In its most recent statement GANHRI responded to the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights’ annual report (A/HRC/57/60) on reprisals for cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights. The statement highlighted escalating threats and reprisals faced by NHRIs, including harassment, smear campaigns, and systemic efforts to undermine their independence. GANHRI called for a renewed global commitment to protect NHRIs, underscoring their indispensable role in bringing human rights realities to the international community, and reaffirmed its dedication to supporting NHRIs in these challenging times.

In the statement for the interactive dialogue on the Secretary-General’s report on reprisals (A/HRC/51/47), GANHRI expressed serious alarm over reprisals against those who engage or seek to engage with UN bodies and mechanisms as well as attacks on the independence of NHRIs and its members. Accordingly, GANHRI called on States and the UN to ensure that protective mechanisms and procedures are established to preserve channels of communication and denunciation between NHRIs and both regional and international human rights mechanisms. 

During the General Debate, the Secretary General reported on national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and the activities conducted by GANHRI in accrediting NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles. GANHRI welcomed the report (A/HRC/51/52) and the SGs observations on a substantive increase in the engagements of NHRIs with UN human rights system. Throughout its intervention, GANHRI called on states to strengthen their support and provide a safe environment for the effectiveness of NHRIs work and advocated for further establishment of independent and well-resourced NHRIs. 

GANHRI conducts annual global surveys focused on reprisals faced by NHRIs to document the challenges they face. In 2024, GANHRI published the report Standing Strong: Challenges and Reprisals against NHRIs and Human Rights Defenders as part of its commitments under the Global Action Plan to Support the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights Defenders and civic Space. Building on findings from its March 2024 survey of NHRIs across Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, the report outlines threats faced by human rights defenders and includes recommendations to counter these challenges. The report supports GANHRI’s and NHRIs’ advocacy with partners across the UN system to strengthen protections and civic space globally.

GANHRI statements in support of NHRIs in individual cases are accessible on the GANHRI website.

Broader engagement with NHRIs, beyond threats

In line with the new GANHRI Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2027, GANHRI:

Supports the establishment, strengthening, accreditation, and capacity development of NHRIs, and their protection when exercising their mandate.
Facilitates GANHRI Members to come together at the global level to collaborate, engage with and support one another and others; and to develop joint learning and experience-based knowledge aimed at informing global policy debate and effective action at the national level.
Provides leadership in the promotion and protection of human rights, bringing the voice of NHRIs to relevant UN and other global fora.
Operates as a professional, effective, well-governed and efficient organization.

For the overview of all GANHRI activities please refer to the annual report.

Relevant sources and materials

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