GANHRI

GANHRI stands for the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. It is an international network of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) that meet the UN Paris Principles. GANHRI serves as a coordinating body to promote and protect human rights by strengthening the independence, credibility, and effectiveness of NHRIs worldwide.

The organization originated as the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC), established in 1993. It was renamed the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in the early 2010s to reflect a broader global mandate. GANHRI brings together NHRIs and regional NHRI networks to share knowledge, set common standards, and advance human rights through joint action and advocacy.

Membership in GANHRI is open to NHRIs that operate in accordance with the Paris Principles. The alliance maintains a Bureau and an elected governing body, supported by a Secretariat, and it coordinates among regional networks to address regional priorities.

Core functions include promoting compliance with the Paris Principles, monitoring the status and effectiveness of NHRIs, offering capacity-building and technical assistance, and facilitating the exchange of best practices. GANHRI also issues joint statements, conducts thematic work, and prepares responses to international human rights developments. It engages with the United Nations and its mechanisms, including participation in the Human Rights Council processes and collaboration with UN bodies, often through consultative mechanisms.

Overall, GANHRI aims to strengthen national human rights protections by fostering independent, credible, and effective NHRIs and by representing their collective voice in international forums.