National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are central to strong national systems for protection and promotion of human rights. These institutions, operating in a variety of contexts, can be instrumental in supporting democratic governance, preventing human rights violations and the escalation of conflicts, strengthening the rule of law and advancing the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. To play these demanding roles effectively, NHRIs require solid capacities to safeguard their independence and resilience to possible changes in governance infrastructures or political changes.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have developed a dedicated partnership to support NHRIs, including assessing and strengthening the capacity of these institutions.

Eight Global Principles for capacity assessments of NHRIs have been identified on the basis of considerable experience and good practices developed over the years. These principles encompass compliance with human rights norms and standards, highlighting the values that underpin effective practices. The Global Principles and the wealth of analysis contained in this volume guide and strengthen capacity assessments and development of NHRIs across the world.