13 1. THE ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND HIS DEPUTIES IN 2019 1.2. T ACCREDITATION – THE OMBUDSMAN AS A UN-ACCREDITED NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTION previously accredited institutions is reviewed every five years, and this procedure is just as comprehensive, serious and complex as the accreditation procedure itself. In Hungary the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights with fundamental and human rights protection responsibilities has he set of criteria of the Paris Principles, i.e. the basic princi- been a status “A” UN National Human Rights Institution since ples of the operation of National Human Rights Institutions, autumn 2014. In 2019, a cardinal international task for the were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993 (including the OCFR was the periodic review procedure of the “A” status as guarantees of independence and pluralism in their operation, and a UN-accredited Human Rights Institution (NHRI) conducted by the their responsibility to defend and promote human rights). Despite Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of their general acknowledgement and use as a standard, the Paris National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), created in 2000. Principles are not internationally binding. Yet, it is based on com- With a view to the successful outcome of the review procedure, pliance with these principles, through an accreditation process, the Office set up an Accreditation Working Group composed of the that a national institution may become a UN-accredited National experts of the various professional fields under the direction of Human Rights Institution, i.e. an NHRI. There are currently three Dr. Gyula Bándi, Deputy Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, categories (status A, B, C) available for the classification of the Ombudsman for Future Generations. In the course of the review institutions that wish to become NHRIs, depending on the ex- procedure, the Office maintained a continuous dialogue and infor- tent to which the institution in question complies with the Paris mation exchange with the SCA, as well as with the ENNHRI, both in Principles. If an institution meets all the criteria, it is awarded writing and by telephone interviews. The Subcommittee requested status “A”, thanks to which it becomes a full-fledged member of the opinion of the relevant international and Hungarian institutions, GANHRI (Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions), and non-governmental and civil society organisations regarding the and is allowed to participate in the meetings of the most important operation of the national human rights institution under review. The human rights body of the UN, i.e. of the 47-member Human Rights Subcommittee makes its decision after reviewing the documenta- Council (HRC). As a general rule, there is usually only one national tion submitted by the institution concerned; this act, however, has human rights institution per country. The accreditation status of been postponed till 2020 in the case of our Office. Convention: year of entry into force Signing, ratification/ accession International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: 1969 1966, 1967 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 1976 1969, 1974 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:1976 1988 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 1991 1994 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: 1976 1969, 1974 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: 2013 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: 1981 1980 Optional Protocol to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: 2000 2000 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: 1987 1986, 1987 Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: 2006 2012 Convention on the Rights of the Child: 1990 1990, 1991 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict: 2002 2002, 2010 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography: 2002 2002, 2010 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure: 2014 International Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: 2003 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance: 2010 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 2008 2007 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 2008 2007 Table 1: UN Conventions and Protocols