Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights H E Volker Türk with other officials during a meeting in Geneva.
Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC, H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah affirmed GANHRI’s commitment to its pivotal role in protecting international law and supporting national human rights institutions at the national, regional, and international levels.
This came during Al Attiyah’s meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights H E Volker Türk, at the Palace of Nations, on the sidelines of the annual conference of the GANHRI on “The Role of National Institutions in Promoting the Human Rights of Women and Girls.”
Al Attiyah noted the complexities of the current global scene and the grave challenges it imposes on the work of the United Nations.
She said: “These challenges come amid a severe financial crisis that has led to budget cuts and the closure of numerous programs, directly impacting human rights protection efforts on the ground.”
In light of these unprecedented challenges, Al Attiyah said the need to strengthen partnerships and effective cooperation increased. She expressed concern about the impact of the current financial crisis on the ability of the High Commissioner to continue providing the necessary support to the Global Alliance and National Human Rights Institutions, whether through technical assistance, support to the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA), or scheduled meetings and programs.
Al Attiyah pointed out that GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation plays a fundamental role in enhancing the independence of national human rights institutions and ensuring their ability to perform their duties efficiently.
She said: “Therefore, we emphasize the importance of continued support from the High Commissioner for Human Rights for this committee, alongside support to the Global Alliance, its regional networks, and national institutions, given the direct impact this support has on the protection of human rights at the national level.”
Al Attiyah listened to the High Commissioner’s vision on the strategies followed by the United Nations and the Commission to deal with crises and maintain the sustainability of human rights work.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Al Attiyah thanked the High Commissioner and expressed her aspiration to enhance cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Global Alliance for the protection of human rights and strengthening the role of national institutions in various contexts.
