A/HRC/RES/23/17
Recognizing the important role of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the development of independent and effective
national human rights institutions, in accordance with the Paris Principles, and recognizing
also in this regard the potential for strengthened and complementary cooperation among the
Office of the High Commissioner, the International Coordinating Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, regional coordinating
committees of national institutions and those national institutions in the promotion and
protection of human rights,
Noting with interest the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the International
Coordinating Committee, held from 6 to 8 May 2013,
Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional and cross-regional
cooperation among national human rights institutions, and between national human rights
institutions and other regional human rights forums,
1.
Welcomes the most recent reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the
Human Rights Council on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human
rights2 and on the activities of the International Coordinating Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in accrediting national
institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles;3
2.
Takes note with appreciation of the most recent report of the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to the Human Rights Council;4
3.
Recognizes the role of independent national institutions for the promotion and
protection of human rights in working together with their Governments to ensure full
respect for human rights at the national level, including by contributing to follow-up
actions, as appropriate, to the recommendations resulting from the international human
rights mechanisms;
4.
Welcomes the increasingly important role of national institutions for the
promotion and protection of human rights in supporting cooperation between their
Governments and the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights;
5.
Encourages Member States to establish effective, independent and pluralistic
national institutions or, where they already exist, to strengthen them for the promotion and
protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as outlined in the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action, and to do so in accordance with the Paris Principles;
6.
Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme
of Action, it is the right of each State to choose the framework for national institutions that
is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in
accordance with international human rights standards;
7.
Welcomes the growing number of Member States establishing or considering
the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights
in accordance with the Paris Principles, and welcomes in particular the high number of
States that have accepted recommendations to establish national human rights institutions
through the universal periodic review and, where relevant, by treaty bodies and special
procedures;
2
3
4
2
A/HRC/23/27.
A/HRC/23/28.
A/HRC/22/47.