According to various media reports, the GANHRI, a UN linked body, has deferred the accreditation of India’s NHRC for the second consecutive year, signalling concerns over India’s human rights record. But what do the numbers say about the cases registered by the NHRC? According to various media reports, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), a UN linked body, has deferred the accreditation of India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the second consecutive year, signalling concerns over India’s human rights record. National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) with ‘A’ status can participate fully in international and regional activities. They have the right to speak at the UN Human Rights Council and UN treaty bodies, act as representatives in multilateral discussions, vote, and hold leadership roles in NHRI networks. NHRIs with ‘B’ status can join GANHRI meetings but cannot vote or hold leadership positions. India’s human rights watchdog, NHRC’s ‘A’ status is under the lens now. India’s former Finance Minister P Chidambaram expressed his disappointment on Twitter regarding the GANHRI’s decision to decline accreditation to India’s NHRC for the second consecutive year. He tweeted, “It is sad – and a shame – that the GANHRI has declined accreditation to India’s NHRC. The status of NHRC as an accredited Human Rights body was suspended in 2023 and now again in 2024.” He noted that GANHRI concluded the NHRC failed to demonstrate its independence from government interference, calling it a rebuke to both the NHRC and the Indian government. It is sad – and a shame – that the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions has declined accreditation to India's NHRC The status of NHRC as an accredited Human Rights body was suspended in 2023 and now again in 2024 The GANHRI has concluded that India's NHRC… What is GANHRI’s accreditation and why is it significant? Why was NHRC’s status deferred? How has NHRC’s performance been over the years? This story aims to address these questions. GANHRI promotes and strengthens NHRIs worldwide Established in 1993, GANHRI, formerly known as the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, is an international body that promotes and strengthens NHRIs worldwide. GANHRI facilitates cooperation among NHRIs, enabling them to share best practices and collaborate on global human rights issues. It provides support, capacity building, and accreditation to ensure NHRIs comply with international standards, particularly the Paris Principles. The Paris Principles emphasize pluralism, independence, and effectiveness The Paris Principles establish the minimum standards that NHRIs must meet to be credible and effective. These principles emphasize three key pillars: pluralism, independence, and effectiveness. The Paris Principles outline several key requirements for NHRIs: Sub-Committee on Accreditation reviews and gives accreditations to NHRIs based on their adherence to principles The compliance to the principles is monitored and reviewed by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA). It is also responsible for the accreditation. This process involves representatives from NHRIs across the four regions: Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, engaging in a rigorous, peer-based evaluation. NHRIs undergo SCA review when they apply for the initial accreditation, when seeking re-accreditation every five years, and when there are changes in the NHRI’s circumstances that could impact its adherence to the Paris Principles. As of December 2023, GANHRI had 120 members including 88 NHRIs with ‘A’ status accreditation and 32 with ‘B’ status accreditation. In accordance with the UN Paris Principles and the GANHRI Statute, ‘A’ status is given when the NHRI is fully compliant with the Paris Principles and ‘B’ when it is only partially compliant with the Paris Principles. NHRC achieved ‘A’ status accreditation for the first time in 1999 The NHRC of India achieved ‘A’ status accreditation for the first time in 1999. This accreditation was reaffirmed during reviews in 2006 and 2011. In the 2016 review process, the accreditation was deferred to the second session in November 2017. During this session, the SCA recommended that the NHRC be granted ‘A’ status accreditation once again. In 2023, the review of NHRC was deferred for a year. Although the latest report about the recent deferment is pending, the Sub-Committee identified several areas of concern regarding the NHRC’s adherence to the principles in 2023, as outlined below.