B. T he I nternational C oordinating C ommittee and its accreditation system The International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was originally established by NHRIs at their International Conference in Tunis in 1993. It coordinates the activities of Paris Principle-compliant NHRIs internationally, including: ■■ Interaction and cooperation with the United Nations system; ■■ Collaboration and coordination among NHRIs and the regional groups and regional coordinating committees; ■■ Communication among members and with stakeholders, including, where appropriate, the general public; ■■ Knowledge development and management; ■■ Development of guidelines, policies, statements; ■■ Implementation of initiatives; ■■ Organization of conferences. The International Coordinating Committee also accredits members, assists those NHRIs that are under threat and encourages the provision of technical assistance, such as education and training opportunities to develop and reinforce the capacities of NHRIs. In 2008, the International Coordinating Committee was incorporated under Swiss law, with a bureau of 16 voting members representing its four regions. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a permanent observer on the Sub-Committee on Accreditation and serves as the secretariat of the International Coordinating Committee. In December 2008, the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/172 (see annex VII below), encouraged NHRIs to seek accreditation status through the International Coordinating Committee and noted with satisfaction the strengthening of the accreditation procedure and the continued assistance of OHCHR in this regard. It also noted the continuing work of the regional human rights network in Europe, the Network of NHRIs in the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Forum of NHRIs and the Network of African NHRIs. 1. What is accreditation? “Accreditation” is the official recognition that NHRIs meet or continue to comply fully with the Paris Principles. Accreditation takes place under the rules of procedure of the International Coordinating Committee’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation (see annex III). These rules of procedure provide that the Sub-Committee on Accreditation has a mandate to review and analyse accreditation applications forwarded by the International Coordinating Committee’s Chair and to make recommendations to the Committee on the compliance of applicants with the Paris Principles. There are currently three levels of accreditation: ■■ ■■ ■■ “A” Voting member: complies fully with the Paris Principles “B” Observer member: does not fully comply with the Paris Principles or has not yet submitted sufficient documentation to make that determination “C” Non-member: does not comply with the Paris Principles 44