The Protection Capacities of NHRIs

Abstract

This chapter, in summarizing the findings, notes a gap between the mandates of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and their capacity to provide protection and pursue remedies following the receipt of complaints and conduct of investigations. NHRIs have been operating in very challenging national and regional political contexts, which have seen a regression in democracy and the rule of law. NHRIs must enhance significantly their capacity and willingness to fulfil some critical roles: (1) investigating allegations of violations, to conduct credible, impartial “hearings” on the same and to publicize these for public awareness of the pursuit of justice; and (2) secure remedies for victims of violations. Such enhancement may take some time given the very challenging political context. Moreover, NHRIs find themselves in a wider geo-political context of a rising China that challenges the international human rights movement and seeks to showcase its authoritarian political system.