A/RES/80/214 GA

United Nations A/RES/80/214 General Assembly Distr.: General 22 December 2025 25-20981 (E) *2520981* Eightieth session Agenda item 71 (b) Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2025 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/80/545, para. 5)] 80/214. National human rights institutions The General Assembly, Recalling all its relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Human Rights Council and the Commission on Human Rights on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, including most recently Council resolution 57/23 of 10 October 20241 and General Assembly resolution 78/204 of 19 December 2023, as well as the previous resolutions on the role of the Ombudsman, mediator institutions and other national human rights institutions 2 in the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), 3 and recalling with appreciation the establishment of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Recalling further the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, 4 which reaffirmed the important and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in _______________ 1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-ninth Session, Supplement No. 53A (A/79/53/Add.1), chap. III, sect. A. 2 “National human rights institutions” and “national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights” are used synonymously. 3 Resolution 48/134, annex. 4 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. A/RES/80/214 National human rights institutions 25-20981 2/9 preventing and remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights and in education in human rights, Acknowledging that the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 5 are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, and recognizing that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contains a pledge to leave no one behind and envisages universal respect and promotion of human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non‑discrimination, Recognizing the importance of the independent contributions of national human rights institutions in promoting and protecting all human rights, including, in accordance with their mandates, economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, particularly in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which seeks, among other tasks, to realize the human rights of all without discrimination on any grounds, Reaffirming the importance of, and welcoming the rapidly growing interest throughout the world in, establishing and strengthening independent and pluralistic national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles, Recalling that the existence of independent national human rights institutions established in line with the Paris Principles is a global indicator of progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, recognizing that national human rights institutions in all regions have made important contributions towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, 6 Noting that, when in compliance with the Paris Principles, national human rights institutions can help States to fast-track vital protection and other services to those left behind, and that the pace of progress in establishing national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles must be increased, Acknowledging the ongoing valuable contribution made by many national human rights institutions in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons with disabilities, and emphasizing the importance of adopting cross-cutting approaches that address their specific vulnerabilities and barriers, recognizing their diversity, Welcoming the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities7 in 2026, and reaffirming the general principles enshrined therein, namely, non‑discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and acceptance of all persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity, individual autonomy and independence of all persons with disabilities, gender equality and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities, Concerned that, despite the various instruments and undertakings, many persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society and violations and abuses of their human rights in places throughout the world, Reaffirming the important role that national human rights institutions play, and will continue to play, in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, strengthening participation, in particular of civil society organizations, promoting the rule of law, developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights _______________ 5 Resolution 70/1. 6 A/80/81-E/2025/62. 7 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2515, No. 44910. National human rights institutions A/RES/80/214 3/9 25-20981 and fundamental freedoms and contributing to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses, Encouraging greater efforts to investigate and respond to increasing reports of cases of reprisal or intimidation against national human rights institutions, their members and staff and those who cooperate or seek to cooperate with them, Recognizing the important role that national human rights institutions can play in preventing and addressing cases of reprisal or intimidation as part of supporting the cooperation between States and the United Nations in the promotion of human rights, including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, to recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms, Taking note of the Belgrade principles on the relationship between national human rights institutions and parliaments,8 Recognizing the important role of the United Nations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in assisting the development and supporting the work of independent and effective national human rights institutions, guided by the Paris Principles, and recognizing also in this regard the potential for strengthened and complementary cooperation among the United Nations, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its regional coordinating networks and those national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the programme of action adopted by national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights at their meeting held in Vienna in June 1993 during the World Conference on Human Rights, in which it was recommended that United Nations activities and programmes should be reinforced to meet the requests for assistance from States wishing to establish or strengthen their national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights 9 and on the activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the principles relating to the status of institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles),10 Welcoming efforts to strengthen United Nations system-wide coordination in support of national human rights institutions and their networks, including the tripartite partnership between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Commending the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions, and welcoming further the continuing work of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, Welcoming the contribution of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to the strengthening of cooperation among existing national human rights institutions in all regions and the enhancement of the engagement of national human _______________ 8 A/HRC/20/9, annex. 9 A/80/286. 10 A/HRC/51/52. A/RES/80/214 National human rights institutions 25-20981 4/9 rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles with relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes, Welcoming also the progress made to date by Member States and all other stakeholders, including the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its regional coordinating networks and relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes, in the implementation of resolution 78/204, Recalling that, in the Pact for the Future, 11 Heads of State and Government stated that national human rights institutions, where they exist, must be protected from any form of intimidation and reprisals, both online and offline, and that they recognized the importance of United Nations engagement with relevant stakeholders, including national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, while preserving the intergovernmental character of the Organization, decided to ensure that such stakeholders can meaningfully participate, in their respective roles and responsibilities, in accordance with relevant rules of procedure, in relevant United Nations processes and that Member States have access to the views and expertise of those partners, and also decided to leverage existing channels and strengthen communication between United Nations intergovernmental bodies and civil society, allowing for ongoing dialogue and exchange of information, Welcoming the opportunities afforded to national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles and their networks to contribute, including on an ad hoc basis, to some sessions of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing and the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,12 and encouraging further efforts to sustain such contributions through well- established modalities for participation in the work of these bodies, Recalling the invitation to national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles to register with the Secretariat in order to participate in the international migration review forums, including the informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearings, and inviting the institutions, as well as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its regional networks, to submit inputs prior to the forums, Welcoming the continued contribution of national human rights institutions to the work of the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, as well as the efforts of the treaty bodies, within their respective mandates and in accordance with the treaties establishing these mechanisms, to promote the effective and enhanced participation by national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles at all relevant stages of their work, and noting with appreciation the ongoing efforts of the treaty bodies, including by the continued consideration of a common treaty body approach to the engagement of the treaty bodies with national human rights institutions at all relevant stages of their work, Noting with appreciation the important role of national human rights institutions in close consultation with and with the active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, including by supporting compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by States Parties thereto at the national level, and in promoting and protecting the human rights of all persons with disabilities and advancing the general principles of the Convention, _______________ 11 Resolution 79/1. 12 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. National human rights institutions A/RES/80/214 5/9 25-20981 Welcoming the designation by some States of national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles as national monitoring mechanisms for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, consistent with articles 33 (2) and 16 (3) thereof, welcoming also the full and effective participation of civil society, in particular all persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, in the monitoring process, and encouraging States to formally designate representative organizations as part of national monitoring mechanisms, Emphasizing the importance of effective and full participation in political and public life of persons with disabilities, as well as the role of all persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in significantly supporting the design of laws, regulations, policies and programmes for promoting, protecting and monitoring obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and noting in particular the importance of gender equality in the leadership across all levels of independent monitoring frameworks, national human rights institutions and organizations of children and young people with disabilities, Taking note with appreciation of the Marrakech Declaration, adopted at the thirteenth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions, and the Kyiv-Copenhagen Declaration, adopted at the fourteenth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions, on the role of national human rights institutions in addressing and preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General,13 and welcomes the further inclusion of examples of good practices from national human rights institutions; 2. Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles); 3. Recognizes the role of national human rights institutions in advising and working together with States to ensure full respect for human rights at the national level, including their liaison role between their Governments and civil society, all persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, to the recommendations resulting from the international human rights mechanisms and contributing to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses; 4. Welcomes the contribution that national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles have made to the promotion and protection of human rights, and the prevention of human rights violations and abuses, and encourages them to continue to do so, including by: (a) Promoting, protecting, monitoring and reporting on the rights of all persons with disabilities, including by supporting the implementation by States Parties of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and engaging with relevant United Nations bodies and mechanisms and processes, such as the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities; (b) Contributing to the protection and implementation of the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including those who require more intensive support, and to the fight against inequality and discrimination on the basis of disability, including _______________ 13 A/80/286. A/RES/80/214 National human rights institutions 25-20981 6/9 multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination, which means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability that has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and championing the voices of all persons with disabilities through close consultation and the active involvement of such persons through their representative organizations; 5. Acknowledges that, in the performance of their key functions, in accordance with their mandates and in compliance with the Paris Principles, national human rights institutions are supporting the establishment and maintenance of inclusive societies, and in doing so are contributing to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons with disabilities; 6. Welcomes the increasingly important role of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in supporting cooperation between their Governments and the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights; 7. Underlines the role of national human rights institutions, established and operating in accordance with the Paris Principles, in the continued monitoring of existing legislation and in consistently informing the State about the impact of such legislation on the activities of human rights defenders, including by making relevant and concrete recommendations; 8. Recognizes the role that national human rights institutions can play in preventing and addressing cases of reprisal or intimidation as part of supporting the cooperation between their Governments and the United Nations in the promotion of human rights, including by contributing to follow-up actions, as appropriate, to recommendations made by international human rights mechanisms, and in that regard takes note of the Marrakech Declaration, adopted at the thirteenth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions; 9. Also recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, it is the right of each State to choose the framework for national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level, with due consideration of the Paris Principles, in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 10. Encourages all Member States to establish effective, independent, pluralistic and adequately resourced national institutions or, where they already exist, to strengthen them, in compliance with the Paris Principles, for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and welcomes the growing number of States establishing national human rights institutions in line with the Paris Principles, including as one of the means for accelerating and guaranteeing progress for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to seek technical cooperation and assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 11. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international human rights instruments; 12. Stresses that national human rights institutions and their respective members and staff should not face any form of reprisal or intimidation, including political pressure, physical intimidation, harassment or unjustifiable budgetary limitations, as National human rights institutions A/RES/80/214 7/9 25-20981 a result of activities undertaken in accordance with their respective mandates, including when taking up individual cases or when reporting on serious or systematic violations in their countries, and calls upon States to promptly and thoroughly investigate cases of alleged reprisal or intimidation against members or staff of national human rights institutions or against individuals who cooperate or seek to cooperate with them and to bring perpetrators to justice, and to ensure access to effective remedies and protection measures for victims; 13. Recognizes the role played by national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Human Rights Council, including its universal periodic review mechanism, in both preparation and follow-up, and the special procedures, in accordance with Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 200714 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/74 of 20 April 2005, 15 and in the human rights treaty bodies, as well as the strengthening of opportunities for such participation stipulated in the outcome of the review of the work and functioning of the Council annexed to Council resolution 16/21 of 25 March 201116 and adopted in General Assembly resolution 65/281 of 17 June 2011; 14. Encourages national human rights institutions to consider the centrality of care and support from a human rights perspective; 15. Welcomes the contribution of national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles to the work of the United Nations, including of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the intergovernmental process of the General Assembly on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system; 16. Encourages national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles to continue to participate in and to contribute to deliberations in all relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes in accordance with their respective mandates, including the discussions on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 17. Encourages all relevant United Nations mechanisms, processes, and bodies, in accordance with their respective mandates, including the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, including the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the high-level political forum on sustainable development and related global and regional processes, to allow for the participation of national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles in their work, through appropriate modalities for accreditation and participation, with a view to ensuring the effective and continuing contribution of national human rights institutions to these United Nations mechanisms, processes and bodies, bearing in mind the relevant provisions dealing with their participation contained in General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, 5/2, 16/21 and 57/23 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/74; 18. Encourages all other relevant United Nations forums and meetings, in accordance with their respective mandates, existing rules of procedure and modalities, _______________ 14 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. 15 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23, E/2005/23/Corr.1 and E/2005/23/Corr.2), chap. II, sect. A. 16 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/66/53), chap. II, sect. A. A/RES/80/214 National human rights institutions 25-20981 8/9 to provide for the engagement of national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles and to allow for their contribution to these forums and meetings; 19. Invites the human rights treaty bodies, within their respective mandates and in accordance with the treaties establishing these mechanisms, to provide for ways to ensure the effective and enhanced participation by national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles at all relevant stages of their work; 20. Encourages all United Nations human rights mechanisms and relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to work, within their respective mandates, with Member States and national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights with respect to, inter alia, projects in the area of good governance and the rule of law, welcomes in this regard the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop partnerships in support of national institutions, including the tripartite partnership between the Office of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and in this respect encourages all United Nations human rights mechanisms and relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to enhance their interaction with national human rights institutions, including by facilitating their access to relevant information and documentation; 21. Stresses the importance of the financial and administrative independence and stability of national human rights institutions, notes with satisfaction the efforts of those States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 22. Underlines the importance of the autonomy and independence of ombudsman institutions, encourages increased cooperation between national human rights institutions and regional and international associations of ombudsmen, and encourages ombudsman institutions to actively draw on the standards enumerated in international instruments and the Paris Principles to strengthen their independence and increase their capacity to act as national human rights protection mechanisms; 23. Commends the high priority given by the Office of the High Commissioner to work on national human rights institutions, encourages the High Commissioner, in view of the expanded activities relating to national institutions, including the work of the Subcommittee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, which meets under the auspices of the Office of the High Commissioner, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national institutions and their networks, and invites States to contribute additional voluntary funds to that end; 24. Welcomes the important role played by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, in close cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, in assisting, when requested, in the establishment of, and in strengthening the compliance of, national human rights institutions with the Paris Principles, in assessing the conformity of national human rights institutions with the Paris Principles and in providing technical assistance to strengthen national human rights institutions, upon request, with a view to enhancing the compliance of national human rights institutions with the Paris Principles, and calls upon Member States and other stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, to follow up on the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, with a view to enabling national human rights institutions to fully comply with the Paris Principles in both law and practice; National human rights institutions A/RES/80/214 9/9 25-20981 25. Encourages national institutions, including ombudsman and mediator institutions, to seek accreditation status through the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions; 26. Encourages all Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and effective operation of national human rights institutions and to support the work of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its regional coordinating networks in this regard, including through support for the relevant technical assistance programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner; 27. Encourages all States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to consider designating or including national human rights institutions as part of one or more independent monitoring mechanisms, as appropriate, to promote, protect and monitor the implementation of the Convention, taking into account the Paris Principles, consistent with article 33 (2) of the Convention; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen support to national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles, as they engage with relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes, with full respect for their respective mandates, and with a view to enabling their most effective contributions, in order to further the implementation of international human rights obligations and commitments; 29. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles, including as one of the means of accelerating and guaranteeing progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in this regard; 30. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to encourage national human rights institutions to interact with and advocate independent participation in all relevant United Nations mechanisms and processes, in accordance with their respective mandates, existing rules of procedure and modalities; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the assistance necessary for holding international and regional meetings of national institutions, including meetings of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner; 32. Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and national human rights institutions, to submit a report to the General Assembly at its eighty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, including on best practices among national human rights institutions, prepared in consultation with States, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders, and published in accessible formats. 69th plenary meeting 18 December 2025

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