A/HRC/4/91
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Coordinating Committee of NHRIs, as the global coordinating body of NHRIs, is able to
participate in the Council in the same manner as accredited NHRIs. It is important that the
principle that only those national institutions deemed to be in compliance with the Paris
Principles are able to address the Council be upheld. The upcoming ICC annual meeting will
include as one of its agenda items the issue of participation of regional coordinating committees
in the Human Rights Council.
16.
OHCHR, in its capacity as secretariat to the Human Rights Council, has been supporting
an enhanced role for NHRIs in the work of the Human Rights Council in discussions with
Member States and the Presidency of the Council. During the first session of the Council, a
representative of ICC delivered an introductory speech that was very well received by the
members of the Council. Additional interventions were made by the NHRIs of India (right to
development) and Morocco (enforced disappearances) and the NHRIs of India, Morocco and
Mexico (universal periodic review mechanism).
4. Information and training activities
17.
Training modules and materials are being finalized with OHCHR partners. These include
a compilation on CD-ROM of NHRI legislation, constitutional provisions and annual reports;
a CD-ROM-based training module for UNCTs on NHRIs; and an update of the publication,
National Human Rights Institutions: A Handbook on the Establishment and Strengthening of
National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Professional Training
Series No. 4).
18.
Other materials have been finalized, such as the CD-ROMs of the Actors for Change
project (see section V.H below), a handbook on the role of NHRIs in the prevention of
HIV/AIDS and in combating HIV/AIDS-related discrimination (see section V.G), and the
Handbook on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for NHRIs. Based on consultations with
NHRIs, OHCHR also finalized, in cooperation with the International Council on Human Rights
Policy, the publication Assessing the Effectiveness of NHRIs, on measurement indicators
regarding the effectiveness of NHRIs and their compliance with the Paris Principles.
19.
Since 2003, OHCHR maintains, in cooperation with the Danish Institute for
Human Rights, a website on NHRIs (www.nhri.net). The site, linked to all existing NHRI
websites and to the OHCHR main web page, includes information on country and thematic
issues of interest to NHRIs. Furthermore, a database of comparative analysis for procedures and
methods of complaints-handling by NHRIs and a news alert, sent by e-mail to all interested
parties, were launched in 2004.
C. Support to regional initiatives
20.
OHCHR provides financial and substantive support to the regional secretariats and
networks of NHRIs.
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