Strengthening the strategic role of NHRIs in UN resolution

In March 2016, a UN resolution on Human Rights Education (HRE) was adopted. The resolution underlines the strategic role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in promoting HRE. The Danish Institute for Human Rights – through the international coordinating committee of the human rights institutions (GANHRI) – played a significant role in achieving this.

Purpose

The resolution highlights that “states calls upon [NHRIs] to contribute further to the implementation of human rights education programmes”. Hereby, the resolution consolidates the shift in focus amongst NHRIs to work across their NHRI mandate areas. This gives NHRIs a more far reaching and sustainable impact on the education sector.

Besides strengthening the strategic role of NHRIs in promotion of HRE the resolution hereby reconfirms and supplements state parties' commitment to national implementation of international standards for HRE.

The difference we made

The Danish Institute for Human Rights played a central part in formulating the suggestive text for the final resolution.

The institute also engaged in the High-Level Panel Discussion on the fifth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. On behalf of the 75 members of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) the Danish Institute of Human Rights read a statement urging UN member states to make use of their NHRIs when implementing HRE.

From the strengthened position NHRIs will be able to take a lead on the implementation of HRE for instance in the formal education sector, in cases where it may not be prioritized by the member states.

Partners

• The United Nations Human Rights Council
• Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)