A/RES/68/171
National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights
by the Paris Principles, and recognizing also in this regard the potential for
strengthened and complementary cooperation among the United Nations, the
International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion
and Protection of Human Rights and those national institutions in the promotion and
protection of human rights,
Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the
World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June l993, 4 which reaffirmed the important
and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in
their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in preventing and
remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights
and in education in human rights,
Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated,
interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that all human rights must be treated
in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis,
Bearing in mind the significance of national and regional particularities and
various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, and that all States, regardless
of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and
protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling the programme of action adopted by national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights at their meeting held in Vienna in June
1993 during the World Conference on Human Rights, in which it was recommended
that United Nations activities and programmes should be reinforced to meet the
requests for assistance from States wishing to establish or strengthen their national
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights,
Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on national
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights 5 and on the process
currently utilized by the International Coordinating Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to accredit national
institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles, 6
Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among
national human rights institutions, and noting with appreciation the continuing work
of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, the Network of
National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the
Americas, the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the
European Group of National Human Rights Institutions,
Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General 7 and
1.
the conclusions contained therein;
2.
Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent
and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human
rights, in accordance with the Paris Principles;3
3.
Recognizes the role of independent national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights in working together with Governments to
_______________
4
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.
A/HRC/23/27.
6
A/HRC/16/77.
7
A/68/208.
5
2/5