chapter Introducing National Human Rights Institutions EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................1 1.1 What is a “National Human Rights Institution?”.......................... 2 1.2 NHRIs in Context................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 The Emergence of NHRIs. ............................................................ 3 1.2.2 Democratic Governance and a Human Rights Framework...... 3 1.2.3 Enabling Laws: Grounded in Constitutional Law and Legislation.............................................................................. 4 1.2.4 International Human Rights Law................................................. 5 1.2.5 Can the NHRI Apply International Standards Domestically?.... 6 1.2.6 NHRIs and Human Rights-Based Approach to Development............................................................................ 7 1.2.7 NHRIs and the Protection of Specific Groups............................. 7 1.2.8 NHRIs and the UN system............................................................ 7 1.2.9 NHRIs and UNCTs.......................................................................... 9 1.3 Introducing the Paris Principles.....................................................10 1.3.1 Key Features. ...............................................................................10 1.3.2 Accreditation and the Paris Principles: introducing the ICC. ...................................................................11 KEY MESSAGES........................................................................... 12 TOOLS IN THIS CHAPTER........................................................... 13 ANNEXES..................................................................................... 14 Annex 1: Table of UN Instruments and International Law...........14 Annex 2: Selected Regional Instruments and International Law............................................................17 1