In a high-level meeting held today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Ms. Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council and Chair of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), met with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres. The meeting aimed to reaffirm the critical role of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in addressing growing global challenges and supporting the human rights agenda at both national and international levels.
During the meeting, Ms. Bouayach expressed GANHRI’s appreciation for the Secretary-General’s efforts to promote human rights as a foundational pillar of the United Nations system. She commended his “Call to Action for Human Rights” and the “Pact for the Future,” describing both as key reference documents that guide the work of NHRIs worldwide.
“Human rights should not be an afterthought, but a fundamental priority,” Ms. Bouayach emphasized. She highlighted the role of NHRIs operating in around 120 countries, listening to the voices of victims and communities and relaying them from the field to national and international decision-making spaces. “National institutions are essential partners in building a more just and equitable global order. We are aware of this role and fully embrace it. Today, we seek to strengthen it further and re-center human rights in global priorities,” she added.
As part of her advocacy mission in New York this week, Ms. Bouayach submitted two proposals to the Secretary-General:
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To grant NHRIs formal participation rights in UN meetings held in New York, particularly those of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), noting that NHRIs, given their proximity to local contexts, “can provide valuable input in these global discussions.”
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To ensure the involvement of NHRIs in the UN’s “UN80” initiative, especially in light of the current decline in international legitimacy and the rise in global conflicts. She stressed the importance of restoring balance between the UN’s three pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights, affirming that human rights must be at the core of any UN reform efforts.
Ms. Bouayach also underscored the strong cooperation between GANHRI and the United Nations system—especially in Geneva—and the increasing recognition of the role of NHRIs in numerous UN resolutions. She highlighted the tripartite partnership between GANHRI, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which aims to build the capacity and effectiveness of NHRIs. The annual meeting of this partnership concluded earlier today, just before Ms. Bouayach’s meeting with the Secretary-General.
“In these difficult times,” concluded Ms. Bouayach, “GANHRI reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights. We call on the international community to renew its commitment to international human rights principles and standards. As national institutions, we count on the United Nations to continue and strengthen its support, ensuring strong, effective, and independent NHRIs across the globe.”
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