At the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), operating under the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the Ombudswoman was once again accredited at the highest A-level of compliance with the Paris Principles.
The Principles set out a series of strict criteria that must be met in order to obtain and maintain accreditation as a national human rights institution that is fully independent and autonomous from the executive branch. Along with the ability to exercise its mandate effectively and without limitation, these are key characteristics of national human rights institutions, which in Croatia are embodied by the institution of the Ombudswoman.
The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia provides that institution of the Ombudswoman is independent and autonomous in her work. In practice, this means that no one can issue instructions regarding the areas of human rights protection and promotion within its competence. The reaffirmation of A-status accreditation also reflects the institution’s ongoing efforts to further enhance the effectiveness of its work and its independence.
This continues a series of accreditations at the highest level since 2008, when the institution first obtained A-status, with the status subsequently confirmed in 2013 and 2019. This reflects its’s continuity in operating according to the highest human rights standards over many years.
In addition to its overall compliance with the Paris Principles, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation in its report specifically recognized and highlighted all efforts of the institution in promoting and protecting human rights in Croatia.
The report noted, in particular, the institution’s work on addressing systemic problems faced by citizens, combating hate speech and discrimination against the Roma national minority, LGBTIQ+ persons, and protecting the rights of migrant workers, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants. The Sub-Committee also emphasized the importance of timely parliamentary discussion of the Ombudswoman’s reports and the provision of adequate resources for its uninterrupted and effective functioning.
The UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council, through a series of resolutions, stress the importance of establishing and strengthening independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. This is especially crucial in times of multiple crises that significantly impact the protection and realization of human rights worldwide, thereby contributing to reducing the implementation gap between international human rights obligations and practice on the ground.
