Accreditation as a National Human Rights Institution
The Scottish Human Rights Commission is going through the process of re-accreditation as a National Human Rights Institution in 2021.
The Commission is currently accredited as an 'A Status' NHRI within the United Nations system. This means the Commission can report directly to the UN on human rights issues and is the only Scottish organisation that can make direct contributions to the UN Human Rights Council.
Accreditation process
The accreditation process assesses our compliance with the Paris Principles both in law and in practice.
The process is carried out by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), which is part of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
Civil society organisations in Scotland are encouraged to make submissions by 19 February 2021 about the functioning of the Commission.
Submissions
The process will look at the work of the Commission between 2015 and 2020 and submissions should address the following issues:
- whether the provisions of the enabling law are sufficient to allow the institution to function effectively and independently;
- whether the organisational structure of the NHRI – including its staff complement and budget – lends itself to effective and independent functioning;
- whether the NHRI is able to carry out its mandate effectively and without interference; and
- whether the NHRI demonstrates independence in practice and a willingness to address pressing human rights issues.
All submissions should be sent by email to the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section sshahidzadeh@ohchr.org; cradert@ohchr.org; nfellow4@ohchr.org and nifellow2@ohchr.org. Hard copies can also be sent to National Institutions, Regional Mechanisms and Civil Society Section, OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Please note that responses will be shared with the Commission prior to the session where the SCA carries out an examination so that we will be able to comment on it as part of the accreditation process. The SCA will then review all of the information provided and the Commission will be asked to answer questions.
ENDS
Notes:
(i) Commission’s full duties and powers are set out in the Scottish Commission for Human Rights Act 2006.
(ii) More information on the accreditation process is available on GANHRI’s website: Accreditation - GANHRI
(iii) For more information on the accreditation process please contact Alison Hosie, Research Officer, by email alison.hosie@scottishhumanrights.com