By: Graciela Moreno Niño, RWI Acess to Justice intern
November closed with great news for Sweden – the recently published report of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Sub-Committee on Accreditation (GANHRI SCA) confirmed the official accreditation of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights (Institutet för Mänskliga Rättigheter, or IMR) as an A-status National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).
The SCA evaluates NHRIs’ compliance with the Paris Principles – the international standards to ensure these institutions’ independence, effectiveness, and ability to promote and protect human rights. The SCA grants “A” status for full adherence and “B” status for partial compliance with the Paris Principles.
(Photo credit: UN Photo/Jess Hoffman)
The IMR’s “A” status recognition marks a significant milestone, highlighting Sweden’s commitment to advancing human rights through an independent and effective institution. The IMR, a rather young institution established in 2022, takes over from the Swedish Discrimination Ombudsman, which previously held “B” status. The SCA welcomed the IMR’s commitment and also provided recommendations to enhance its operations. These include clarifying procedures for board member appointments, improving regional accessibility, advocating for increased funding to support its full mandate, and fostering greater engagement with the parliament in its enabling law.
Armenia also achieved a successful outcome – its Human Rights Defender’s Office (HRDO) was re-accredited with “A” status, reflecting the institution’s dedication to human rights and its continuing efforts to address critical challenges. Since 2006, the RWI has collaborated with the Armenian HRDO, which continues to be a close partner to this day. This long-standing partnership currently includes the development of e-learning tools and staff handbooks, as well as checklists and procedures that seek to enhance its work in detention monitoring, among others.
This recent GANHRI SCA session also saw the review of several other NHRIs across the globe, resulting in diverse outcomes. For instance, the Turkmen Ombudsman, which also sought accreditation, achieved “B” status. In contrast, the NHRIs of Myanmar and Russia had their accreditation status removed, setting a precedent for the SCA, which so far had not removed any accreditation status. On the other hand, Denmark’s Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) retained its “A” status, with recommendations from the SCA to undertake further improvements, such as in addressing conflict of interest concerns and securing explicit protections for its staff. This serves as a reminder that continual progress toward meeting the full requirements of the Paris Principles is needed for even some of the well-established institutions and systems.
RWI takes pride in seeing that NHRIs it has partnered with internationally–including Armenia, Georgia, Timor-Leste, and Zambia–achieved or maintained “A” status during this session. These accreditations highlight the value of sustained collaboration and capacity development. For more than 30 years, RWI has worked alongside over 50 NHRIs globally, fostering their growth and promoting compliance with the Paris Principles. As these institutions continue to advance human rights, RWI remains devoted to supporting their vital work, strengthening their capacities and transforming principles into tangible protections for all.
For more information about our work with NHRIs, you can visit this page.