Amina Bouayach and Volker Türk discuss strengthening global human rights institutions at UN Geneva

Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), held talks on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, with Volker Türk at the Moroccan pavilion at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva.

Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to «launch joint initiatives and advocacy actions», according to a statement received by Yabiladi. The objective is to «encourage states to establish and strengthen the mandates of their national human rights institutions».

The discussions also provided an opportunity to exchange «views and shared concerns on global human rights issues», particularly in light of what was described as a decline in multilateral action and insufficient funding.

Priorities included strengthening support for national human rights institutions, notably by encouraging their creation. Currently, only 115 UN member states have such bodies, and not all benefit from A-status accreditation, which ensures compliance with the Paris Principles governing their functioning.

In this context, Türk emphasized the «essential» role of national human rights institutions and described GANHRI as an «important partner» in advancing human rights. He further stressed that these institutions play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting human rights at both national and international levels.

The meeting also brought together members of the Moroccan and OHCHR delegations, as well as GANHRI representatives, including its secretary, Alison Kilpatrick.