GNCHR COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM

The need for the NHRIs to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights outside the national borders is also underlined by the Paris Principles, which place the international obligations of the NHRIs at the core of their responsibilities. In particular, the Paris Principles state that the NHRIs have an obligation “To cooperate with the United Nations and any other organization in the United Nations system, the regional institutions and the national institutions of other countries that are competent in the areas of the protection and promotion of human rights” (Paris Principles, A.3.e.),  to encourage ratification of international human rights instruments, or accession to those instruments, and to ensure their implementation (Paris Principles, A.3.c.), as well as “To contribute to the reports which States are required to submit to United Nations bodies and committees and to regional institutions, pursuant to their treaty obligations and, where necessary, to express an opinion on the subject, with due respect to their independence"(Paris Principles, A.3. d). In order “To promote and ensure the harmonization of national legislation, regulations and practices with the international human rights instruments to which the State is a party, and their effective implementation” (Paris Principles A.3.b), the NHRIs must have a thorough knowledge of international human rights law.

It is no coincidence that NCHRs which comply with the Paris Principles, are gaining more and more prestige within the human rights system and are recognized as independent bodies with the capacity to transpose and apply international human rights law at the national level, as well as to contribute know-how and experience to regional and international fora. It is important to note that the relationship between NHRIs and other human rights bodies - international or regional - is reciprocal and symbiotic. The international system of human rights is based on the NHRIs to provide, in an independent and objective manner, all the necessary information on the human rights situation in their country. The NHRIs, on the other hand, are taking advantage of their international status to strengthen as much as possible the human rights protection regime at national level, actively interacting and learning from the best practices of peer NHRIs.

According to the provisions of its legislation, the mission of the GNCHR is "the exchange of experiences at international level with similar bodies of international organizations, such as the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE or other States" (Article 1, par. 5. b. of Law 2667/1998) while at the same time it is in charge of delivering “an opinion on reports which the country is to submit to international organizations on related matters (article 1, par. 5. e), maintaining “constant communication and working together with international organizations, competent bodies of other countries, and national or international non-governmental organizations; (article 1, par. 6. f), as well as “(…) the adaptation of Greek legislation to the provisions of international law for the protection of human rights, expressing a relevant opinion to the competent bodies of the State’ (article 1, par. 6. j).
At the same time, aware of its responsibility as an NHRI and responding to the mission assigned to it by the national legislator, which consists, inter alia, of constantly monitoring the development of human rights issues, promoting relevant research, raising public awareness (article 1, par. 5. a of Law 2667/1998) and the organization of a Human Rights Documentation Center (article 1, par. 6 i), the GNCHR has collected and compiled in a single list the international and European legally binding texts on the protection of human rights, always with the aim of ensuring the widest possible framework for the protection of human rights. The List of International and European Conventions on Human Rights issued by the GNCHR is regularly updated and is a useful tool in the hands of the policy maker and legal scholar. It includes conventions concluded within the framework of the UN, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Frontpage, List of International and European Conventions on Human Rights
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