Outcomes announced of the October 2025 session of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation
From 20-30 October 2025, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) assessed four ENNHRI members on their compliance with the UN Paris Principles.
In its 46th session, the SCA assessed the compliance of NHRIs in Bulgaria, Croatia and Latvia with the UN Paris Principles. It also considered the first-time accreditation of the institution in Liechtenstein.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria was reaccredited with A-status. The SCA recommended that the institution advocate for amendments in legislation to ensure that the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman cannot be appointed caretaker Prime Minister, thereby strengthening independence safeguards in law. In addition, the SCA included recommendations on adequate funding, pluralism, and on its human rights promotion mandate.
The SCA reaccredited the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia with A-status. The SCA encouraged the NHRI to advocate for explicit protection for the institution’s leadership and staff from both criminal and civil liability. It also encouraged the institution to continue pushing for the timely debate of its annual reports before Parliament. Further SCA recommendations concerned adequate funding to ensure a fit-for-purpose premises for the institution, term of office, and the tenure of members. The SCA also made a recommendation on the explicit mandate to encourage the ratification of, or accession to, international human rights instruments.
The Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia was reaccredited with A-status. The SCA included recommendations on conflict of interest; the legislative provisions on selection and appointment of the head of institution; functional immunity; and safeguards against dismissal.
More information on the recent and the upcoming SCA session
ENNHRI provided tailored support to its members before and during the session. It also stands ready to assist them and national authorities in following up on the SCA’s recommendations.
For full details on the outcomes and recommendations from the session, read the report.
In the April-May 2026 SCA session, six ENNHRI members will be assessed: those in Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine. For the Swiss institution, this will be a first time the institution is considered for accreditation by the SCA. 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.
