A delegation from NHRC, India comprising Member, Mr. Justice P.C. Ghose and Secretary General, Mr. Ambuj Sharma attended the GANHRI Bureau meeting at San Jose, Costa Rica from the 1st-3rd November, 2017. In the inaugural session, Ms. Beate Rudolf, Chairperson, GANHRI said that in view of the difficult environment prevailing, there is a need for greater cooperation amongst the various NHRIs and also between GANHRI regional networks and individual NHRIs. Several key issues concerning the human rights and National Human Rights Institutions were discussed during the three day-long meeting.
UNDP representative, Ms. Sara Rattray spoke about the new initiatives on business and human rights in the APF region, capacity enhancement of NHRIs in Africa region and cooperation through regional workshops on developing action plans for NHRIs. She also laid emphasis on the need for greater cooperation between the UN bodies and NHRIs.
The representatives of the four regional networks gave brief power point presentations on the impacts, challenges and next steps with reference to the NHRIs and their activities in their respective areas.
During the presentation of the report of Finance Committee, the NHRC, India's emphatic suggestion was appreciated that fee waivers/reductions in contributions from NHRI should not be routine feature, and that these need to be curtailed to the minimum possible amount and period, keeping in view the availability of funds for the total budget of that particular NHRI and the proportion of their fee component.
The Secretary General, NHRC, India, presented a report of the Chair of Working Group on Business and Human Rights, as he was not available. The three working groups on the subject were given some more time to finalize the report. With reference to a proposal to prepare a Sub-Committee Accreditation manual for laying down the clear guidelines for grant/renewal of accreditation of NHRIs, the NHRC, India raised the issues of lack of clarity and contradictions arising out of general observations, Rules of Procedure and inadequacies in the provisions to duly take into account the human rights practices in particular NHRIs in the context of their country's environment.
In the context of brain storming for various ideas to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of GANHRI next year, the India delegation also mentioned about the Silver Jubilee of NHRC, India in 2018 and extended invitation to GANHRI and regional networks to participate in the celebrations, particularly the proposed international conference / panel discussion etc.
The NHRC, India delegation also suggested the use of modern technology for vide awareness of human rights all over the world, including self pledge to respect
human rights.
When the issue of down grading the NHRI of Azerbaijan from A to B status by the Sub-Committee
on Accreditation came up, the Indian delegation supported the stand of NHRI of Azerbaijan that the issues relating to legal amendments were not in the hands of the NHRI but the Government, and the same could not be expected to be achieved in a short period of one year. The NHRC, India also appreciated the NHRI of Azerbaijan
for its work relating to prison visits and release of certain detenues etc.