appointment criteria are made public and subject to discussion by all stakeholders, in particular civil society organisations, before adoption. Similarly, processes and reasons for dismissal, such as incapacity or non­performance, should be set out in the NHRI’s organic law. E. Composition of a national institution’s membership Beyond the formal criteria required for membership of a national institution, it is vital to take into account issues of public legitimacy. Does the NHRI reflect ­society’s diversity, or do its members and staff belong to a political or legal elite? Appointment criteria should therefore take account of society’s distinct characteristics – its ethnicity, religion, language and so on. Positive efforts will likely be needed to ensure that politically and economically disadvantaged groups are adequately represented: women and people with disabilities, for example. Socio-economic class should also be a consideration. Such an approach is sometimes criticised for “tokenism”. It is argued that ­members of disadvantaged groups are employed as a gesture in the absence of real efforts to address their problems. But in fact, the presence of such ­members within an institution does help to ensure that their concerns are heard and addressed. Diversity can be achieved by making appropriate appointments to the governing board and staff. Large and unwieldy memberships should however be avoided because they often paralyse decision-making. Even multi-member institutions tend to be more effective when they have a small number of members. Members and staff of NHRIs should always be selected on merit. F. Professional skills and knowledge of human rights If a national institution is to work effectively, its members and staff need to ­possess the necessary professional skills, including expertise in human rights. Membership criteria and recruitment procedures should ensure this objective. At the same time, induction and training for both will be necessary, in particular to ensure that members and staff are equipped to deal with issues that are ­sensitive, outside their experience, or clash with their personal beliefs. G. Relations with civil society The Paris Principles recognise that relationships with civil society can help NHRIs to protect their independence and pluralism. This can also enhance their effectiveness by deepening their public legitimacy, ensuring they reflect ­public concerns and priorities, and giving them access to expertise and ­ valuable ­social networks. There are different ways of establishing this relationship. Membership – Members of a multi-member institution may be representatives of civil society bodies. Members may be directly nominated or proposed to the appointing body by civil society organisations. On the other hand, if an Assessing the Effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions 15