BackThe Portuguese Ombudsman has been reaccredited as A status National Human Rights Institutions, in full compliance with the Paris Principles, for the period of 2012-2017.
This status, which the Portuguese Ombudsman holds since 1999, grants him important participation rights both at the international and national level, including, for example, the possibility to directly address the Human Rights Council and other Committees and bodies of the United Nations, either in writing or through autonomous participation in their meetings. The Portuguese Ombudsman is also invited to attend the meetings of the National Human Rights Commission and to contribute to its activity (this Commission is an interministerial body working under the aegis of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the goal of ensuring better coordination in the fulfilment of Portugal’s human rights obligations and in the preparation of the country’s position in international human rights organisations).
In 2012, five years after his last re-accreditation, the Ombudsman was contacted by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC), with a view to launching a new review of his status as National Human Rights Institution – a process that would come to its conclusion on 6 May 2013, with the adoption of a final decision by the ICC Bureau.
SOURCE: Portuguese Ombudsman
