National institutions are cornerstones of just societies: GANHRI chairperson

The chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, who is also chairperson of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), has underlined the role of national institutions and their significant contribution to promoting the implementation of the 2023 Agenda on the basis of rights and with a focus on people.This came during a speech delivered at the ongoing TriPartite Partnership meetings of the global alliance for human rights, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Development Programme at the UN headquarters in New York, which discussed the role of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in accelerating progress towards sustainable development goals (SDGs).Al-Attiyah described human rights institutions as the bridge between the state and the people, and the guarantor of hearing the voice of the masses and societies, and respecting and protecting their rights in all national development efforts and processes.She noted that national institutions are also considered a bridge between the international and national systems, helping to ensure that the accurate provisions of international human rights norms are translated into a reality for all people on the ground.Effective, inclusive and independent NHRIs represent the cornerstone of just and inclusive societies that can promote peace, security, human rights and sustainable development for all, al-Attiyah added.She renewed her call to all countries to strengthen and protect existing NHRIs by providing them with adequate technical and financial resources as an effective means to promote the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.The GANHRI chairperson said that national institutions, as independent state institutions with a broad mandate in the field of human rights, are in a good position to link the different dimensions of the scope and vision of the 2030 Agenda and to link the 17 goals with the overarching call of leaving no one behind and leading advocacy efforts to make the plan a success in working for the benefit of people everywhere.She said that thanks to the extensive experience of NHRIs in the field of human rights and their unique roles in monitoring and reporting, especially in dealing with emergency crises and natural and humanitarian disasters, NHRIs are critical actors that provide an independent, reliable and evidence-based assessment of the progress made by states as well as identifying areas that remain necessary to help ensure that all human beings can enjoy their human rights and benefit from sustainable development without discrimination.Al-Attiyah noted that NHRIs – while advising governments on adopting a human rights-based approach in their sustainable development policies – are expected to participate in global policy discussions and decision-making, in the follow-up and implementation of the development agenda, including economic, social and cultural rights, to name a few, and to support and contribute to the voluntary national review processes.She expressed concern that some NHRIs as well as other human rights defenders have been subjected to reprisals or other acts of intimidation as a result of their work to promote and protect all human rights.Al-Attiyah stressed that the Global Alliance and regional networks of NHRIs, as well as our partners within the UN system, will continue to provide support in this endeavour to states and NHRIs in all regions.