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More than 300 participants between national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and experts from across the globe met online this week to discuss strategies and innovations they have developed in responding to the unprecedented challenges to human rights during this year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Human rights have faced a year of crisis and the full impacts of the pandemic are still to be felt,” said GANHRI Chairperson and Ombudsperson of Ecuador, Freddy Carrión Intriago.
“Lockdowns and restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly have had an enormous impact on individuals and communities around the globe, plunging millions into poverty and situations of extreme vulnerability,” he said.
“NHRIs have shown outstanding creativity and commitment, adapting how they work so they can continue to be accessible to all, monitor the human rights situation in their countries, report on their findings and advocate to government to ensure human rights principles guide the national response to COVID-19” he added.
"The pandemic is a crisis, but like any crisis, it can also be an opportunity. NHRIs are fundamental actors in the formulation of public policies, and in developing national and regional recovery plans that put human rights at the center of the State's agenda" stated GANHRI Secretary and Chairperson of NHRI of Qatar, Dr. Ali Al Marri.
The 2020 Annual Meeting, which was held online from 30 November to 4 December, included two major live discussions:
- Knowledge exchange of good practices: Implementation of NHRI mandate and functions in the COVID-19 context - co-sponsored by UNDP and OHCHR (3 December)
- Annual Conference: Climate change and the role of NHRIs - co-sponsored by UNDP, OHCHR and UNEP(4 December).
During the Knowledge exchange representatives from the NHRIs of Belgium, El Salvador, Morocco, Nepal, Palestine, Peru, South Africa and Slovakia as well as participants from the floor shared their experiences of implementing their mandates and functions to protect human rights during COVID-19, including through innovative approaches and promising practices.
Under the GANHRI-UNDP-OHCHR Tripartite Partnerrship, a study has been commissioned on NHRIs and COVID-19 to gather key findings, lessons learned and recommendations to support NHRIs during the COVID-19 crisis, which was presented during the meeting.
In February 2020, the UN Secretary-General released a Call to Action for Human Rights, which described climate change as “the biggest threat to our survival as a species”. The paper highlighted the important role that NHRIs can play to respond to the human rights impacts of climate change and promote climate justice.
The Annual Conference explored how NHRIs can advocate for human rights to be integrated into national climate commitments, policies and laws; support climate litigation; and strengthen their approaches to monitor and report on human rights and climate change.
The GANHRI Chairperson opened the Annual Conference which was also addressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UNDP Administrator and UNEP's Executive Director, all highlighting the critical role that NHRIs have in promoting human rights based, effective and participatory climate action.
Representatives from NHRIs of Argentina, Kenya, Madagascar, Philippines, Scotland, Colombia and Samoa as well as Dennis van Berkel of the Urgenda Foundation and participants from the floor discussed experiences and challenges in addressing the human rights impacts of climate change.
At the end of the Annual Conference, participating NHRIs adopted a Statement on climate change and the role of NHRIs that will serve as a reference for individual and collective action by NHRIs on climate change.
In addition to the panel discussions, NHRIs were able to engage with each other and share experiences via the online platform SharePoint, developed for the 2020 GANHRI Annual Meeting. Through this platform "A" status NHRIs were able to submit their vote for the General Assembly.
"While COVID-19 continues to separate us physically, this Annual Meeting will be a much-needed time of inspiration, encouragement and solidarity for NHRIs," the GANHRI Chairperson said.
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