Assessing the Effectiveness of the Uganda Human Rights Commission vis-à-vis the Paris Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions

Abstract

The Paris Principles relating to the status of national human rights institutions set universally acknowledged standards for assessing the effectiveness of a domestic national human rights institution. However, it is often the case for these institutions to formally conform to the principles but remain ineffective. The article examines the Uganda Human Rights Commission, which enjoys ‘A’ status for its compliance with the Paris Principles parameters and discovered that, notwithstanding the compliance, the effectiveness of a national human rights institution could be hampered in practice. The article argues that proper assessment of the effectiveness of a domestic institution should transcend formal and structural compliance with the Paris Principles and examine the practical manifestation of those standards in the institution's operation. The institutions can be rendered ineffective by the appointment of unqualified members, lack of diversity and pluralism, inadequate funding and facilities, unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks, binding incompatible instruments and non-compliance with decisions.