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Chief Commissioner to chair international body
Human Rights Commission
Media release
26 March 2010
Chief Commissioner to chair international body
The Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, Rosslyn Noonan, has been elected as the new chair of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) in Geneva today.
The ICC is the global organisation charged with strengthening and establishing independent, effective national human rights institutions that meet international standards.
Noonan said, “I am honoured to take on the role, and believe it reflects the high regard many countries have for New Zealand’s principled stance in support of human rights principles.”
Justice Minister Simon Power said, “I'd like to congratulate Ms Noonan. This is a great honour for her. It's also a reflection of New Zealand's work and standing in the international community on human rights issues."
As the new chair, Noonan will oversee the ICC’s role in accrediting emerging national human rights institutions, ensuring they meet the standards set by the United Nations Paris Principles. The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has an “A” rating.
National human rights institutions have a unique role at the United Nations. They are independent of governments and separate from non-governmental organisations. United Nations and other international agencies are increasingly looking to NHRIs to provide authoritative human rights advice to better monitor the progress countries make towards the realisation of human rights.
One of the first tasks Ms Noonan will address is preparation for the ICC and United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights 10th anniversary international conference on national human rights institutions in Edinburgh in October this year. The conference theme is Business and human rights.
The new role is part-time and Ms Noonan will continue as the Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. Her role with the ICC will be co-funded by the Asia Pacific Forum, the regional human rights umbrella body to which the New Zealand Human Rights Commission belongs and the ICC.
Read more on the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotions and Protection of Human Rights.
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