Human rights ministries, inter-ministerial delegations or committees, whether with a thematic or comprehensive human rights mandate, have become important domestic actors dedicated to driving human rights implementation and progress. These human rights focal points have emerged in State practice and, more recently, have been recognised in international law and guidance, as recommended drivers of implementation. At the same time, governments and national administrations (i.e., the civil service) also defend States’ records in the field of human rights (e.g., where there are allegations of human rights violations), or – worse – may even be instrumental in planning and executing restrictive policies. This highly ambivalent role of governmental actors warrants critical attention.
See our Universal Rights Group blog post (also found below): Governmental human rights focal points: governments and national administrations as drivers of human rights implementation? | Universal Rights Group (universal-rights.org)
