About

• The Paris Principles (“Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions”) set out the minimum standards required by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to be considered credible and to operate effectively.
• The guidelines were developed at a United Nations meeting held in Paris in 1991, which brought together representatives of NHRIs from all parts of the globe to define the core attributes that all new or existing institutions should possess.
• Paris Principles require that NHRIs have independence in law, membership, operations, policy and control of resources.
• They also require that NHRIs have a broad mandate, pluralism in membership, broad functions, adequate powers, adequate resources, cooperative methods and engage with international bodies.

Full compliance with the Paris Principles provides NHRIs with international recognition.