SHRC marks historic first attendance at Annual General Conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions   |31 March 2025

The Seychelles delegation

The Seychelles Human Rights Commission marked a historic milestone by attending, for the first time, the Annual General Conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), held from March 10 to 12, 2025, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

A key highlight for the Seychelles Human Rights Commission (SHRC) was attending dedicated knowledge exchange sessions focusing on the national human rights institution (NHRI) accreditation process, a particularly crucial topic as the Commission pursues its own accreditation with GANHRI. These sessions provided invaluable insights, with NHRIs from around the world sharing experiences, challenges, and strategies for navigating the accreditation journey.

Discussions covered adherence to the Paris Principles, the international benchmark for independent, effective NHRIs, and how achieving accreditation strengthens an institution’s credibility and influence both nationally and globally. For the SHRC, this exchange of knowledge was pivotal, offering guidance on how to refine its operations, enhance its structure, and position itself as a fully accredited, internationally recognised human rights institution.

The conference also centered on the theme “The Human Rights of Women and Girls: Promoting Gender Equality and the Role of NHRIs,” addressing key issues through a series of focused sessions. Discussions explored global trends and setbacks impacting gender equality, highlighting NHRI responses and priorities needing urgent attention.

Sessions also examined NHRIs’ roles in monitoring and reporting violations, ensuring accountability for violence against women, and supporting access to justice. The conference looked at promoting gender equality through legal and policy reforms, education, and tackling harmful stereotypes. A final session explored the need for greater gender inclusion within NHRIs themselves, emphasising the importance of gender balance in leadership and operations while stressing data-driven approaches to ensure mandates and programmes actively advance gender equality.

The Annual Meeting underscored the importance of universal principles of international law, recognising these shared values as the foundation that binds nations together in the collective pursuit of human rights. It also reinforced the growing significance of NHRIs in protecting and promoting human rights within their respective countries, highlighting their evolving role in ensuring justice and equality for all.

Throughout the conference, the independence and autonomy of NHRIs emerged as a recurring and vital theme, with repeated emphasis on the necessity for NHRIs to operate free from external influence to effectively carry out their mandates and hold authorities accountable.

Represented by Commissioner Elna Etienne-Kumar and Gina Come, Senior Education and Training Officer, the SHRC’s participation at this global platform marks a pivotal step forward, not only in advancing its commitment to human rights in Seychelles but also in paving the way for its future accreditation and integration into the global network of recognised human rights institutions.

Contributed