International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
Encyclopedia
The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, sometimes shortened to the International Coordinating Committee (ICC), is a global network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) - administrative bodies set up to promote, protect and monitor human rights
in a given country. The ICC, whose full legal title is the "International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights", coordinates the relationship between NHRIs and the United Nations
human rights system, and is unique as the only non-UN body whose internal accreditation
system, based on compliance with the 1993 Paris Principles
, grants access to UN committees. Institutions accredited by the ICC with "A status", meaning full compliance with the Paris Principles, are usually accorded speaking rights and seating at human rights treaty
bodies and other UN organs. The ICC representative often presents statements on behalf of individual NHRIs or the regional groups.
The ICC is constituted as a non-profit entity under Swiss
law, and has one member of staff representing it at the United Nations Office at Geneva
. Secretariat support is provided to the ICC by the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms (NIRM) Unit of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR). Additional work devolves on the NHRI elected to chair the network, currently the New Zealand Human Rights Commission
, and the chairs of the ICC's four regional networks. The peer review
process for initial accreditation, and re-accreditation every five years, is managed by a subcommittee consisting of one representative of each of the regional networks. The ICC holds annual general meetings (usually in Geneva in March, coinciding with the UN Human Rights Council session) and a biennial thematic conference
; the tenth conference, hosted in 2010 by the Scottish Human Rights Commission
, was on the theme of business
and human rights.
The National Human Rights Institutions Forum is a web portal maintained on behalf of the ICC by the National Human Rights Commission of India. It shows a list of 119 institutions that have been accredited. Of those, around 70 are currently accredited with "A status" by the ICC, and are thus entitled to vote or hold office in the ICC or its regional groups; those with lower status (B, meaning not fully compliant with the Paris Principles, or C status meaning not compliant) can only participate as observers.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in a given country. The ICC, whose full legal title is the "International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights", coordinates the relationship between NHRIs and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
human rights system, and is unique as the only non-UN body whose internal accreditation
Accreditation
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies ; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited...
system, based on compliance with the 1993 Paris Principles
Paris Principles
The Paris Principles were defined at the first International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Paris on 7-9 October 1991. They were adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Resolution 1992/54 of 1992, and by the UN General...
, grants access to UN committees. Institutions accredited by the ICC with "A status", meaning full compliance with the Paris Principles, are usually accorded speaking rights and seating at human rights treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
bodies and other UN organs. The ICC representative often presents statements on behalf of individual NHRIs or the regional groups.
The ICC is constituted as a non-profit entity under Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
law, and has one member of staff representing it at the United Nations Office at Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
. Secretariat support is provided to the ICC by the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms (NIRM) Unit of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
(OHCHR). Additional work devolves on the NHRI elected to chair the network, currently the New Zealand Human Rights Commission
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission is the national human rights institution in New Zealand. It is funded through the Ministry of Justice, but operates independently of the New Zealand Government...
, and the chairs of the ICC's four regional networks. The peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
process for initial accreditation, and re-accreditation every five years, is managed by a subcommittee consisting of one representative of each of the regional networks. The ICC holds annual general meetings (usually in Geneva in March, coinciding with the UN Human Rights Council session) and a biennial thematic conference
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
; the tenth conference, hosted in 2010 by the Scottish Human Rights Commission
Scottish Human Rights Commission
The Scottish Human Rights Commission was established by an Act of the Scottish Parliament [] and started their work in 2008. The Commission is independent of Government, and the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments. The Scottish Human Rights Commission promotes and protects the human rights of...
, was on the theme of business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and human rights.
The National Human Rights Institutions Forum is a web portal maintained on behalf of the ICC by the National Human Rights Commission of India. It shows a list of 119 institutions that have been accredited. Of those, around 70 are currently accredited with "A status" by the ICC, and are thus entitled to vote or hold office in the ICC or its regional groups; those with lower status (B, meaning not fully compliant with the Paris Principles, or C status meaning not compliant) can only participate as observers.
Regional groupings of NHRIs
- Network of African National Human Rights InstitutionsNetwork of African National Human Rights InstitutionsThe Network of African National Human Rights Institutions is one of four regional groupings within the global network, the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
(NANHRI) - Asia Pacific ForumAsia Pacific ForumThe Asia Pacific Forum is one of four regional networks of national human rights institutions within the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) - European Group of National Human Rights InstitutionsEuropean Group of National Human Rights InstitutionsThe European Group of NHRIs is one of four regional networks of national human rights institutions within the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...
- Network of National Institutions in the AmericasNetwork of National Institutions in the AmericasThe Network of National Institutions in the Americas is one of four regional groups of national human rights institutions within the global network, the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs...