A/HRC/45/43 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 14 of Human Rights Council resolution 39/17, in which the Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council, at its forty-fifth session, on the activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). 2. In the Paris Principles, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993, set a number of criteria necessary for a national human rights body to be considered as a national human rights institution. Under those criteria, a national institution must be given a broad mandate to promote and protect human rights, clearly set forth in a constitutional or legislative text, and must be established in accordance with a procedure that affords all necessary guarantees to ensure pluralism of composition, independence and adequate funding. 3. The Statute of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (hereinafter the Statute) mandates its Subcommittee on Accreditation to review and analyse applications for accreditation from national human rights institutions, and to determine whether the latter are compliant with the Paris Principles. In accordance with section 10 of the rules of procedure of the Subcommittee, the classifications for accreditation are the following: (a) A status, indicating full compliance with the Paris Principles; (b) B status, indicating partial compliance with the Paris Principles. 4. The Subcommittee issued its general observations with the substantive assistance and input of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). These general observations serve to interpret the Paris Principles and provide a basis for the Subcommittee’s review of accreditation applications submitted by national human rights institutions. The general observations are also used by national human rights institutions to strengthen their capacity and efficiency, and to advocate measures by their authorities to improve the legislative basis of the institutions and to address any funding or other issues. 5. The Subcommittee is composed of four national human rights institution with A status. To ensure a fair balance of regional representation, section 3.1 of the Subcommittee’s rules of procedure require that one institution be appointed as member from each of the four regional networks recognized in article 31.1 of the Statute (Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe). The members of the Subcommittee are appointed by their regional networks for a renewable three-year term. Under section 3.2 of its rules of procedure, the Subcommittee designates one of its members as its Chairperson. for a one-year term, renewable twice. 6. Article 6 of the Statute requires that its general and Bureau meetings and the meetings of the Subcommittee be held under the auspices of, and in cooperation with, OHCHR. 7. According to article 11.1 of the Statute, after considering a report from the Subcommittee, the Bureau of the Global Alliance takes a decision on all applications for accreditation under the auspices of, and in cooperation with, OHCHR. The latter therefore assumes the secretariat functions of the Global Alliance and the Subcommittee. This entails the analysis and preparation of accreditation files, and the presence of OHCHR at all meetings of the Subcommittee, including during deliberations and the adoption of reports, to oversee the process and provide technical advice to the members. 3