A/HRC/20/9 Annex Belgrade principles on the relationship between national human rights institutions and parliaments (Belgrade, 22–23 February 2012) The 2012 International Seminar on the Relationship between National Human Rights Institutions and Parliaments,a organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the National Assembly and the Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the United Nations country team in Serbia, In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the General Assembly resolutions 63/169 and 65/207 on the role of the Ombudsman, mediator and other national humans rights institutions in the promotion and protection of humans rights, 63/172 and 64/161 on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights and the Human Rights Council resolution 17/9 on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. Recognizing that the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights (Paris Principles) state that NHRIs shall establish “effective cooperation” with parliaments, Noting that NHRIs and parliaments have much to gain from each other in performing their responsibilities for the promotion and protection of human rights, And recalling the need to identify areas for strengthened interaction between NHRIs and parliaments bearing in mind that the different institutional models of NHRIs should be respected, Adopts the following principles aimed at providing guidance on how the interaction and cooperation between NHRIs and Parliament should be developed: I. Parliament’s role in establishing a national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights and securing its functioning, independence and accountability A. Founding law 1. Parliaments, when deliberating the draft legislation for the establishment of a national human rights institution, should consult widely with relevant stakeholders. 2. Parliaments should develop a legal framework for the national institution for the promotion and protection of human rights (NHRI) which secures its independence and its direct accountability to parliament, in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) and taking into account the general observations of the International Coordinating a The Conference was attended by experts from NHRIs, parliaments and universities from Ecuador, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Serbia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 17