In a major step forward for the on-the-ground implementation and realisation of international human rights standards, earlier this month (8-9 May), UN member States meeting in Asunción, Paraguay, reached agreement on the establishment of a new global network of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting, and follow-up (NMIRFs). The network will provide a significant boost to the qualitative and quantitative development of NMIRFs, by allowing representatives of the mechanisms to regularly meet to share evolving good practices.
The two-day conference was attended by more than 20 States, as well as experts from civil society, the UN, and academia. Building on an earlier conference in Morocco, the meeting sought to promote an exchange of best practices and experiences, strengthen coordination between relevant actors, and establish the ‘International Network of NMIRFs.’ Following opening speeches from officials from Paraguay, Morocco, and Portugal, various expert panels to discuss best practices and lessons learned were held.
Participants on the first panel discussed the participation of civil society and national human rights institutions (NHRIs). State representatives discussed lessons learned from their national experiences, while civil society panellists detailed best practices, with panellists all generally agreeing that increased and more in-depth civil society participation leads to a more effective NMIRF. Regarding NHRIs, all participants agreed that NHRIs should be involved in NMIRFs in a fully integrated manner, but that NHRIs must also maintain their independence.
The next panel considered the involvement of local governments with the processes of NMIRFs. Panellists discussed the challenges between connecting the national and local levels of government – including the need to sometimes provide context to the UN human rights system and to overcome issues related to involving large numbers of municipalities and other local government structures, as well as the benefits of involving local governments, including the fact that local governments have the strongest connection with citizens.
The final best practices and lessons learned panel discussed the involvement of parliamentarians. During this panel, participants discussed not only challenges to the involvement of parliamentarians in NMIRF processes, but also examples of the benefits provided by strong involvement of legislatures.
During the plenary session of the second day, panellists detailed information management systems and tools employed by various types of NMIRFs, as well as identification of cooperation and technical assistance opportunities for exchange of experiences between States.
Throughout the conference, participants also discussed the Tenth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion X) on ‘NMIRFs and the strengthening of the UN human right system’s effectiveness and on-the-ground impact,’ to be held in Marrakech in October 2024. Glion X, to be organised by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Universal Rights Group, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, Gambia, Marshall Islands, Thailand, and the Commonwealth Small States Office, will seek to provide a space for relevant actors to share and identify key ‘good practices’ in the establishment and development of NMIRFs. This identification of core, shared, good practices will in turn contribute to the elaboration, through inclusive dialogue and cooperation, of a universal guidance framework to help guide all States that seek to establish and/or develop effective NMIRFs.
During the final session of the conference, participants adopted the Asunción Declaration by consensus, resulting in the creation of the International Network of NMIRFs.
The Network, which will aim to include representatives of all NMIRFs, in addition to representatives from UN member States that have not yet established a NMIRF, will seek to be a sustainable community of NMIRF practice that institutionalises cooperation, partnership, dialogue, and provides a space to exchange best practices and expertise. Its primary objective will be to facilitate the identification, documentation and sharing of effective NMIRF practices, while fostering regular engagement and collaboration among global stakeholders.
Further, the Network will aim to strengthen the capacities of its members; encourage partnerships (as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation) between Network members and other relevant stakeholders; improve cooperation and partnerships between the international human rights system through collaboration with the system’s processes (namely the UPR, Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures); and contribute to a virtual knowledge hub for national mechanisms (provided for in Council resolution 51/33).
The creation of the International Network of NMIRFs marks a significant milestone in the progressive development of NMIRFs, and in international efforts to translate universal norms into improved local realities for rights-holders.
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