Outcomes announced of the April 2026 session of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation
In its 47th session, from 20 April to 1 May 2026, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) assessed five ENNHRI members on their compliance with the UN Paris Principles. Those assessed were the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Slovenia and Ukraine.
The session’s outcomes
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was reaccredited with A status. Recommendations were made on its human rights mandate, selection and appointment, dismissal and tenure of the decision-making body, staff recruitment, protection from civil and criminal liability, and consideration of annual reports to Parliament. The SCA also encouraged the NHRI to continue advocating for adequate resources to implement its growing mandates.
The SCA reaccredited the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights with A status. It encouraged the NHRI to continue its advocacy to ensure that all the institution’s mandates are fully applicable across the Netherlands, including the Caribbean territories. Further SCA recommendations concerned the Institute’s composition, tenure, annual reporting, and adequate funding.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission was reaccredited with A status. The SCA encouraged the NHRI to continue advocating for amendments in its legislation for a more explicit and stronger protection mandate. This includes stronger powers to raise human rights cases through the courts in the public interest, compel information from public bodies, conduct unannounced visits to places of detention, and to remove the current restrictions on providing advice to individuals. Further SCA recommendations concerned selection and appointment, full-time membership, consideration of its annual reports in Parliament, and adequate funding to effectively carry out the breadth of its mandates.
The SCA reaccredited the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia with A status, acknowledging its efforts to implement its previous recommendations. The SCA included recommendations on the human rights mandate, selection and appointment, dismissal, and protection of staff from criminal and civil liability.
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights was reaccredited with A status. The SCA commended the work of the NHRI in particularly challenging circumstances. It made recommendations on human rights mandate, selection and appointment, tenure, functional immunity for members and staff, as well as adequate funding and financial autonomy.
More information on the recent and the upcoming SCA session
ENNHRI gave tailored support to its members before and during the session and stands ready to assist them and national authorities in their follow-up to the SCA recommendations.
For the full details on the outcomes and recommendations from the SCA’s 47th session, read the report.
In the upcoming 48th session, from 9 to 20 November 2026, the SCA will be assessing three ENNHRI members: Azerbaijan, France and Serbia. ENNHRI stands ready to support its members during the accreditation process.
Read more on what accreditation support encompasses, as well as ENNHRI’s Practical Guide to the Accreditation of NHRIs.
