T he National Human Rights Commission, India deputed Shri B.S. Nagar, Under Secretary (Coordination) to attend a training on 'International Human Rights Mechanisms' in Geneva, Switzerland from the 1st-5th May, 2017. It was organised by a German non-profit organisation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in collaboration with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The purpose of the training was to expose the participants, from various National Human Rights Institutions, NHRIs, to international human rights protection framework and mechanisms. During several interactive sessions, they were familiarized with the role, mandate and functions of the OHCHR as well as bodies like the GANHRI and the process of accreditation for NHRIs conducted by the Sub-committee on Accreditation (SCA) of GANHRI. They were also given an insight into the International Human Rights Treaties, their Optional Protocols, the role of Treaty Bodies in monitoring the implementation of these treaties, as well as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC.
The participants attended the Treaty Body Session of the committee against Torture. Additionally, Shri Nagar also got to attend the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, during which India's National Report for UPR-III was reviewed at the UNHRC on the
4th May, 2017.