Human Rights Network of Portuguese-speaking Countries strengthens international cooperation during GANHRI Assembly
From March 10 to 12, Geneva hosted the Annual Assembly and Conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), featuring the active participation of the Human Rights Network of Portuguese-speaking Countries. The formal presentation of this Network and its members marked a significant milestone in its consolidation and global recognition, reinforcing its commitment to advancing human rights in Portuguese-speaking countries.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, the Ombudsperson of Portugal, Maria Lúcia Amaral, in her capacity as interim president and executive secretariat of the Network, organized a side event titled “Strengthening Human Rights Institutions in the CPLP: Cooperation and Engagement with International Mechanisms.” This event provided a platform to discuss strategies for enhancing the institutional capacity of Portuguese-speaking National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), strengthening their role in the international human rights system, and exploring avenues for greater engagement with GANHRI and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The event was attended by representatives of these organizations, as well as Aua Baldé, a human rights expert and member of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
Additionally, a meeting of the Network was held, during which the Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU) of Brazil was formally welcomed as a new member. Both initiatives were well attended by Network members, many of whom are not yet affiliated with GANHRI.
During the GANHRI General Assembly, Maria Lúcia Amaral received the certificate renewing the Ombudsman’s status as an NHRI with ‘A’ accreditation, confirming full compliance with the Paris Principles. Originally granted in 1999, this status provides the institution with extensive rights to participate in the international human rights system. Its renewal, secured in June 2024, followed a rigorous evaluation process conducted by GANHRI.
New leadership. GANHRI’s General Assembly elected new leadership: Amina Bouayach (from the National Human Rights Council of Morocco) as Chairperson and Alyson Kilpatrick (from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission) as Secretary General. Both will serve a three-year term.
During the NHRI Knowledge Exchange sessions, discussions covered topics such as the rights of persons with disabilities and the NHRI accreditation process. The conference focused on “The Human Rights of Women and Girls: Promoting Gender Equality and the Role of National Human Rights Institutions.”
Established in 1993 and based in Geneva, GANHRI coordinates approximately 120 national institutions, making it one of the world’s largest human rights networks.
