The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received a shot in the arm by retaining its “A” status in its accreditation with the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Geneva.
The Accreditation Sub-Committee of the ICC-NHRIs has recommended that the NHRC be reaccredited with “A” status. The decision, taken at the session of the ICC Sub-Committee on accreditation in Geneva from May 23 to 27 was communicated to the NHRC on Friday.
The NHRC continues to hold “A” status with the ICC since 1999. This status is given to the NHRIs, which are fully compliant with the “Paris Principles” towards the promotion and protection of human rights.
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There was some apprehension that the ICC might review and withdraw the status granted to the NHRC, headed by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. However, the ICC meeting in Geneva decided to continue the status in recognition of NHRC's outstanding performance in protecting human rights.
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According to the NHRC, the ICC Sub-Committee welcomed its initiative in holding discussions with the deemed members during the Statutory Commission meetings to address issues related to women's rights, minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The NHRC said: “The ICC has also been informed that the NHRC has extensive formal cooperation with its core groups and expert groups of different stakeholders, including NGOs on many issues of human rights.
“The Commission has already responded to the ICC that the appointments of the Chairperson and members to the Commission are made by the President of India and this process is considered as the most transparent process of appointment of Chairperson and members of the NHRIs in the world.”
Complaint handling
The ICC Sub-Committee took note of the NHRC's complaint handling system to address the increasing number of complaints and delays in complaint handling. It also took note of the process of submission of annual reports, which are brought in the public domain through Parliament.
The process, as per the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 passed by Parliament, requires that the NHRC submit its annual reports to People's Representatives in Parliament through the government so that it reaches to them along with the response of the government to the recommendations and issues raised by the Commission therein.