Promoting and protecting human rights

A new study designed to help national human rights institutions (NHRIs) improve their ability to promote human rights was published by the Commonwealth Secretariat in November 2007.

The publication was officially launched at the first meeting of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions in Kampala, Uganda, on 19 November by Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

NHRIs are autonomous institutions created by national governments, to promote and protect human rights. The report – ‘Comparative Study on Mandates of National Human Rights Institutions in the Commonwealth’ – observes that the majority of NHRIs tend to vary in composition and duties.

Some NHRIs deal with human rights issues; others combine a number of functions, including oversight over the public sector and administrative decisions, community and race relations, while some institutions have few powers beyond those of a traditional ombudsman.

The study is the first of its kind and was commissioned by the Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit following a request by participants who attended the Commonwealth Conference of National Human Rights Institutions in London in February 2007.

At this conference the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions was established as an informal and inclusive body of Commonwealth NHRIs and other national accountability mechanisms with human rights mandates. These institutions support the broad objectives of promoting networking, sharing information, experiences and best practices as well as assisting national institutions to fulfil their mandated activities.

The study analyses the various models of national human rights institutions and mechanisms from the four major regions of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Not only does it compare the ideal context in which NHRIs should operate, it also examines what they are actually doing, thus providing a means by which NHRIs can be compared against each other, while highlighting, where possible, the innovative and positive aspects of the legislative or operational mandates of particular NHRIs.

Despite being a Commonwealth initiative, a number of non-member countries’ NHRIs are also analysed in order to provide a wider scope of comparison. The study points out similarities and differences between NHRIs and examines the challenges and constraints under which many of them operate, such as inadequate funding, lack of skilled personnel, as well as state interference.

The study further examines how far countries have gone in adhering to international human rights conventions, and spells out the core minimum human rights standards which all Commonwealth nations are obliged to protect irrespective of whether they have ratified international human rights treaties or not.

Jarvis Matiya, Human Rights Adviser at the Secretariat, writes in the book’s introduction that the “publication is designed to assist governments, NHRIs, Ombudsman offices, non-governmental organisations, and international and regional organisations and actors to promote and entrench ever stronger and more important national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in countries across the Commonwealth.”

HOW TO ORDER

This title can be bought through booksellers or online at http://publications.thecommonwealth.org/comparative-study-on-mandates-of-national-human-rights-institutions-in-the-commonwealth--543-p.aspx

A full catalogue of Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation publications can be viewed on the website, which provides a secure online buying facility. Orders can also be made through e-mail or by post. Pre-payment is essential. Payment by sterling cheque, international money order, postal order or bank draft must accompany your order.

Payment should be in sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made out to the Commonwealth Secretariat. If you require the order form as an attachment in Word format please e-mail the Publications Section (see address below). Post and packaging charges should be added to every order in the following way: UK orders: 15 per cent of order value (minimum charge £2.00). Non-UK orders: 25 per cent of order value (minimum charge £3.50).

Send orders to: Publications Section, Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6534; Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081; E-mail: publications@commonwealth.int

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