Civil society coalition demands reforms as NHRC faces global accreditation review

By A Representative

The All India Network of NGOs and Individuals (AiNNI) has launched a three-day social media campaign, #ReformNHRC, urging systemic changes to India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as it undergoes a critical re-accreditation review by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

The campaign, which began on March 17, aims to spotlight concerns over the NHRC’s independence and efficacy ahead of a decision by GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) later this month.

Background

The NHRC’s accreditation has been deferred twice—in March 2023 and May 2024—amst longstanding criticisms of its failure to uphold human rights protections. AiNNI, alongside international partners, has submitted civil society reports to GANHRI since 2022, highlighting structural flaws, including lack of transparency, diversity, and cooperation with grassroots organizations. The SCA, now chaired by New Zealand with members from South Africa, Greece, and Honduras, will assess whether the NHRC complies with the Paris Principles, which mandate independence and effectiveness for national human rights institutions.

Criticisms and Recent Controversies

AiNNI’s campaign underscores concerns over the NHRC’s recent collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs through its ITEC program, which hosted capacity-building workshops for Global South human rights bodies in November 2024 and March 2025. Critics argue such partnerships undermine the NHRC’s autonomy, particularly as the body operated without a full-time chairperson and four members during the first workshop. A Geneva side event on March 13, 2025, led by newly appointed Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, has further fueled debates about the NHRC’s commitment to addressing systemic issues.

Campaign Details

The #ReformNHRC initiative urges participants to share pre-drafted tweets, graphics, and videos from AiNNI’s Electronic Toolkit (*linktr.ee/ainni_India*) across Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. The campaign emphasizes sustained engagement from 6–8 PM IST daily between March 17–19, 2025.

Henri Tiphagne, AiNNI’s National Working Secretary, stated: “This is not about shaming institutions but reclaiming accountability. The NHRC belongs to the people of India, and we demand it fulfills its mandate under the Paris Principles. Global solidarity is crucial to ensure transparency and action.”

Call to Action

AiNNI invites students, activists, NGOs, trade unions, and policymakers to join the campaign, stressing that even 15 minutes of daily social media engagement can amplify calls for reform. Resources include past reports, SCA findings, and guidelines for quoting AiNNI’s posts to maximize reach.

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