A/HRC/10/55 page 24 Annex III INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Report and Recommendations of the Session of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation Geneva, 3-6 November 2008 1. BACKGROUND 1.1. In accordance with the Statute of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (ICC), the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (the Sub-Committee) has the mandate to consider and review applications for accreditation, re-accreditation and special or other reviews received by the National Institutions Unit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its capacity as the ICC Secretariat, and to make recommendations to the ICC Bureau members with regard to the compliance of applicant institutions with the Paris Principles. The Sub-Committee assesses compliance with the Paris Principles in law and in practice. 1.2. In accordance with the Sub-Committee Rules of Procedure, the Sub-Committee is composed of representatives of each region: the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of Germany for Europe (chair), Morocco for Africa (replacing Rwanda), the Republic of Korea for Asia-Pacific and Canada for the Americas. The Sub-Committee convened from 03 to 06 November 2008. OHCHR participated as a permanent observer and in its capacity as ICC Secretariat. In accordance with new procedures, regional coordinating bodies of NHRIs were invited to attend as observers. The Sub-Committee welcomed the participation of a representative of the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs. 1.3. The Sub-Committee notes the new ICC Statute adopted at the 21st session of the ICC on 21 October 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya (attached as Annex 1). The Sub-Committee applied these new procedures to its work in the current session, as set out below. 1.4. Pursuant to article 10 of the Statute, the Sub-Committee considered applications for accreditation from Great Britain (Equality and Human Rights Commission), Qatar, Russia, and Switzerland (Commission fédérale pour les quéstions féminines). 1.5. Pursuant to article 15 of the Statute, the Sub-Committee also considered applications for re-accreditation from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Thailand. 1.6. Pursuant to article 17 of the Statute, the Sub-Committee reviewed certain issues regarding the NHRIs of Afghanistan and Nepal.