The importance of the Paris Principles for the organization of human rights activities in sovereign States

https://www.doi.org/10.32523/2791-0954-2023-5-1-82-92

Abstract

The article analyzes the structure and content of the principles concerning the status of national institutions engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights or the Paris Principles. This document is an important international normative instrument that defines the framework for the activities of national human rights institutions. It sets out the minimum guidelines and criteria for the legitimacy of the NHRI.

National human rights institutions are part of the State system and have a clearly defined role in it. Despite belonging to state bodies, the NHRIs do not belong to any of the branches of government. The human rights function is established based on a constitutional or legislative mandate. It is noteworthy that the object of their assessments may be government agencies that have committed human rights violations.

The Paris Principles give NHRIs the tasks of both promoting human rights and protecting them equally. The composition of the national institution and the procedure for appointing its members must comply with the requirement of pluralism, that is, representation in its composition of all strata of society. The independence of NHRIs is ensured through legal, functional, and financial independence; members of a national human rights institution should be granted privileges and immunity.

In addition, this document defines the working methods of the NHRI and the possibility of exercising quasi-judicial powers.