The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) provides support to all NHRIs established by UN member States, regardless of accreditation status. 

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading UN entity on human rights. The Office represents the world’s commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Both the High Commissioner and the Office have a unique role to: 

• Promote and protect all human rights: UN Human Rights speaks out objectively in the face of human rights violations and helps elaborate the standards that are used to evaluate human rights progress worldwide. 
• Help empower people: UN Human Rights engages in research, education, and advocacy activities that contribute to the increased awareness and engagement by the international community and the public on human rights issues. 
• Assist Governments: Through field presences, the Office helps prevent abuses and contributes to defusing situations that could lead to conflict. Its monitoring and analysis feeds sensitive decision-making and development programming. UN Human Rights also provides capacity-building and legal advice to thousands, supporting the development and judicious enactment of laws and policies the world around. 
• Inject a human rights perspective into all UN programmes: UN Human Rights mainstreams human rights into all UN programmes to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights – the three pillars of the UN – are interlinked and mutually reinforced. 

The UN Human Rights’ National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section (NIRMS) supports UN member States in the establishment of NHRIs and helps build the capacities of existing NHRIs. UN Human Rights serves as the Secretariat of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), including its Sub-Committee on Accreditation. Further information on the activities of OHCHR NIRMS can be found below.

The OHCHR Regional Office for Europe based in Brussels supports the implementation of the mandate of UN Human Rights in Europe, specifically vis-à-vis the European Union institutions and main stakeholders in the EU. The Regional Office provides policy advice and technical assistance to EU institutions and closely cooperates with ENNHRI and other regional partners to strengthen national human rights institutions from the regional level. It undertakes advocacy, human rights communication, capacity building, supports the civil society and other actors as concerns the EU internal and external policy, in a variety of areas of interest to the UN and the EU.  

UN Human Rights also provides support, guidance and expertise to a wide range of human rights monitoring mechanisms in the UN system, all within the framework of international human rights law. There are two types of human rights monitoring mechanisms within the United Nations system: treaty-based bodies and charter-based bodies. The ten human rights Treaty Bodies, made up of committees of independent experts, monitor implementation of the core international human rights treaties. The charter-based bodies include the Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and Independent Investigations. UN Human Rights provides expertise and support to the different mechanisms, and NIRMS facilitates interaction of NHRIs with them. 

Support is generally available for all NHRIs established by UN member States, regardless of accreditation status. The type of support that can be provided, if any, is assessed case-by-case based on an analysis of the information received. Support provided is guided by the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles). 

Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council can act on complaints of alleged human rights violations targeting NHRIs, as well as on proposed laws and statutes that could impact the independence of NHRIs in line with the Paris Principles. Details on the submission of information to Special Procedures can be found here.

NHRIs can provide information on alleged human rights violations targeting NHRIs to Treaty Bodies in the context of reviews of the relevant State Party by such a Treaty Body. NIRMS can provide further information upon request.   

Allegations of cases of intimidation and reprisals against NHRIs for cooperating with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights may be addressed to the UN body or mechanism (i.e. treaty bodies, special procedures, universal periodic reviews, and investigative bodies) where the cooperation took place (for contact details please see here with a copy also sent to ohchr-reprisals@un.org) to facilitate coordination and follow-up. Special Procedures can take up cases concerning intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights; information can be submitted through the above submission channel.  

Other secure channels of communication are available upon request. Please note that the informed consent of the alleged victim is a prerequisite for the information to be reported and for any action to be taken.