GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS A-Status institution: A national institution may be afforded this accreditation status by the Bureau of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC Bureau) when it is in full compliance with the Paris Principles. A-Status institutions that can participate fully in the work and meetings of National Institutions internationally and regionally as a voting member, and they can hold office in the ICC Bureau or any Sub-Committee established by the Bureau. A-status institutions are also able to participate in HRC sessions and take the floor under any agenda item, submit documentation and take separate seating. The Abuja Guidelines: Adopted in Nigeria in 2004 at a meeting of representatives of national human rights institutions and of parliaments from the Commonwealth. They are guidelines for developing effective relationships between parliaments, parliamentarians and NHRIs for the promotion and protection of human rights. They recognize that both NHRIs and parliaments have an invaluable contribution to make to the promotion, protection and realization of human rights and that parliaments should develop a special working relationship with, and support the work of, NHRIs. The guidelines also recognize that NHRIs have a significant role to play in supporting the work of parliaments and parliamentarians. Access to justice: The process of ensuring that all individuals have access to the legal services and to legal processes in order to defend and enforce their rights as well as to seek or obtain a legal remedy. Accession: The act whereby a state accepts the offer or the opportunity to become a party to a treaty already negotiated and signed by other states. It has the same legal effect as ratification. Accession usually occurs after the treaty has entered into force. Accreditation: The official recognition by the Bureau of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (ICC Bureau) of whether a national institution meets or continues to comply fully with the Paris Principles. National Institutions may be afforded the following accreditation Statuses: (1) “A status”: compliant with the Paris Principles; (2) “B status”; observer status - not fully in compliance with the Paris Principles or insufficient information provided to make a determination; and (3) “C status”; not compliant with the Paris Principles. Accreditation process: The process by which the Sub Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) reviews and analyzes accreditation applications and makes recommendations to ICC Bureau members on the compliance of applicants (NHRI institutions) with the Paris Principles. At the end of the process, an NHRI may be afforded one of the 3 statuses (“A,” “B,” or “C” status). The process has “progressively become more rigorous and transparent, and now considers the effectiveness of NHRIs and their engagement with the international human rights system” (according to http://www.nhri.net/default. asp?PID=605&DID=0). Amicus curiae: The amicus curiae is someone who, although they are not a party to the lawsuit, petitions the court or is requested by the court to file a brief due to their strong interest in the subject matter of the lawsuit (also referred to as “friend of the court” or “amicus”). Arbitrary detention: Holding an individual in custody without due cause, substantive evidence, or due process of law. All individuals have the right to liberty; therefore, arbitrary arrest or detention violates the rule of law and habeas corpus. Art 9(1) of ICCPR and Art. 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibit arbitrary detention. Art. 55 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines arbitrary detention as a crime. Arrest: Arrest generally refers to seizing or forcibly restraining an individual. More specifically, it signifies the act of placing a person in custody under legal authority of the state. This is generally done in response to a criminal charge. Unlawful arrest, in contrast to lawful arrest, would involve taking a person into custody without a valid warrant or without probable cause to believe the person has committed a crime. Asia-Pacific Regional Human Development Initiative (AP Regional Initiative or APRI): The APRI is a regional programme. It provides UNDP Country Offices and other partners in the Asia-Pacific region with Human Development Reports and other forms of policy-oriented research, analysis, and advocacy. It seeks to link research and stakeholders as means to more effectively align policies with human development. The APRI also provides capacity development and policy advisory services to regional Country Offices. xi