TY - BOOK AU - Murray,Rachel TI - Role of National Human Rights Institutions at the international and regional levels: the experience of Africa T2 - Human rights law in perspective SN - 9781841133942 AV - JC571 .M87 2007 U1 - 323 22 PY - 2007/// CY - Oxford, Portland, Or. PB - Hart KW - National human rights institutions KW - Africa KW - Human rights KW - fast N1 - Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-133) and index; The role of National Human Rights Institutions at the international and regional levels -- Legitimacy of NHRI participation -- The role of the NHRIs in the United Nations -- NHRIs at the regional level -- NHRIs as state or non-state actors -- Ensuring the accountability of NHRIs: what role for the international and regional bodies N2 - "National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), defined by the UN as bodies established to promote and protect human rights, have increased in number since the General Assembly adopted principles governing their effectiveness in 1993. The UN and others have encouraged states to set up such institutions as an indication of their commitment to human rights, and now over 20 such institutions exist in Africa and many more will follow. These institutions have taken various forms including ombudsmen, commissions, or a combination of the two. They differ in terms of how they are established; some by constitution, some by legislation and some by decree. These NHRIs have varying functions, usually both promotional and protective, such as giving advice to government, parliament, and others, making recommendations on compliance with human rights standards, awareness raising, and analysis of law and policy. Despite the considerable variations in the method of their creation, powers and composition, most of these institutions have chosen or indeed been mandated, to become involved in international and regional fora. This book examines these institutions in the African region, the way in which they use the international and regional fora, the effectiveness of their contributions and how they are able to participate." --book jacket ER -