Building Democratic Institutions: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Good Governance and Human Rights Protection

"This Article will begin by describing the various types of national human rights institutions and the role of the United Nations and the international community in supporting the establishment of national human rights institutions. Next, the paper will explore how national human rights institutions can improve government administration and promote and protect human rights, and thereby build good governance. The Article will also examine factors that affect the effectiveness of national human rights institutions and analyze their main soft powers of recommendation. Finally, a selection of case studies of national human rights institutions will illustrate how these institutions are being structured in an attempt to build and improve the quality of administration and the protection of human rights." [This Article does not focus on women's rights issues.]