Projects and Themes > Projects > National human rights institutions: effectiveness and legitimacy
Status: Published
National human rights institutions: effectiveness and legitimacy (1st ed. 2000; 2nd ed. 2004)
Introduction
This report examines the degree to which national human rights institutions are successful in carrying out their mandate to promote human rights and protect the rights of citizens. The study assesses how national human rights institutions acquire legitimacy and a reputation for effectiveness. Based on research in three countries, it includes practical recommendations for strengthening their work, and their creation.
Research team
Biographical affiliation was accurate when research took place.
Research director
Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, Research Director, ICHRP, 1998-2004. For more information on this project, please contact Fairouz El Tom, Outreach and Publications Coordinator, ICHRP.
Lead researcher
Richard Carver, is the former Head of the Africa Programme at Article 19 (International Centre Against Censorship) and was at the time of the project Research Associate of Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, where he also has taught. He has worked on the staff of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and has served as a consultant to a number of non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations. He is the author of books on health and underdevelopment and on the post-independence history of Malawi, as well as chapters in books on impunity and accountability, racism in the media and broadcasting in Africa. He has also written numerous human rights reports and academic articles.
Advisors
Mercedes V. Contreras, Commissioner, Philippines Commission on Human Rights.
Ian Hamilton, Director, National Institutions Programme, Canadian Human Rights Foundation.
Kamal Hossain, Ph.D., Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Juan E. Méndez, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
N. Barney Pityana, Ph.D., Chairperson, South African Human Rights Commission.
Researchers
Benny Giay, University of Cenderawasih, Jayapura.
Phil Gunson, independent researcher.
Nii Ashie Kotey, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana.
Hendy Lukito, Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association.
Aída María Noval, independent researcher.
Denny Yomaki, Irian Jaya Environment Foundation.
Documents
Funders
Links
Alternative Information Network
Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
Comisión Canadiense de Derechos Humanos
Human Rights National Commission - Mexico
Inter-American Human Rights Institute (IIHR)
International Ombudsman Institute
Latin American Federation of Ombudsman (FIO)
National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
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“A welcome addition to the study of national institutions . . . the best piece I have read on the subject.” Kieren Fitzpatrick, Director, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
“The report is admirably clear and makes many valuable observations as well as providing much information which has not been readily available before. It will be an extremely useful contribution to the debate on national human rights institutions and one hopes to their development.” Sarah Spencer, Director, Citizenship and Governance Programme, Institute for Public Policy Research, London