WIREDGOV

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has retained its accreditation as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution. 

Some civil society organisations in the UK wrote to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions’ Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) last year, asking for the EHRC’s accreditation to be reviewed.

The SCA considered the issues raised in detail through its Special Review process.

The issues considered included the EHRC’s advice to the UK government on the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010; the EHRC’s work to address discrimination against trans people in the UK; the steps the EHRC has taken to strengthen cooperation with civil society organisations working on trans rights; and the EHRC’s internal investigation of complaints by staff.

The SCA has now confirmed to the EHRC that it remains fully compliant with the ‘Paris Principles’, which provide the benchmark for high-performing, independent National Human Rights Institutions.

The decision means that the EHRC retains its independent participation rights at the UN Human Rights Council and remains able to report directly to the United Nations on human rights issues.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:  

Notes to Editors:

1. The EHRC was last reaccredited with ‘A status’ in 2022, as it had previously been in 2015 and 2008.
2. National Human Rights Institutions are assessed against the Paris Principles. These require NHRIs:

• To be competent to promote and protect human rights
• To have a broad, clear constitutional and legislative mandate
• To submit advice on human rights issues to government and Parliament
• To cooperate with the United Nations and other international organisations to protect and promote human rights
• To promote education of human rights in schools, universities and professional circles
• To combat all forms of discrimination by increasing public awareness of human rights
• To ensure plural representation in its appointments
• To have adequate funding
• To be independent in its decision-making and operation

There are two levels of accreditation, rating NHRIs' compliance with the Paris Principles:  

• ‘A’ – fully compliant 
• ‘B’ – partially compliant 

NHRIs that are non-compliant are graded as 'not accredited'.

3. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the National Human Rights Institution for England and Wales, with a human rights mandate in Scotland in relation to matters reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Human Rights Commission has a mandate to promote and protect human rights in Scotland that fall within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Letter to members of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation - 23 November 2023