Tbilisi, 3 December 2025 – This morning, Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), opened a high-level meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, calling for stronger protection and greater effectiveness in upholding human rights, in light of “the deepening crisis facing the international human rights system.” The meeting brought together heads of continental networks of national human rights institutions, alongside international and UN partners.

Ms. Bouayach warned that the international human rights system is facing a “profound crisis,” marked not only by declining global funding for human rights work and for the effective implementation of rights and freedoms, but also by the weakening of multilateralism and of international consensus on fundamental values. She stressed that these global challenges threaten the very foundations of international cooperation at a time when the world is facing escalating crises.

In her remarks, the CNDH Chairperson stressed that human rights worldwide are facing major challenges. These include the shrinking of civic space, the crisis of multilateralism, the rise of armed and economic conflicts, and the worsening impacts of climate change, particularly at a time when climate conferences (COP) continue to struggle to respond to the scale of the emergency.

Ms. Bouayach also highlighted the opportunities and risks associated with digital spaces and AI systems, noting that they are emerging issues that directly affect both the effectiveness and the very essence of rights and freedoms.

Despite the severity of these challenges, she affirmed that “our role as NHRIs is pivotal,” particularly in times of crisis. She stressed that “the strength of these institutions lies in their diversity” and their varied national contexts and roles, as well as in the alliances they build around a shared goal: promoting human rights and ensuring their effective protection. Ms. Bouayach described NHRIs as a bridge between states and peoples, connecting continents and serving as a dynamic force at the intersection of national realities and international aspirations, while safeguarding the universality of rights and freedoms.

The CNDH Chairperson reiterated that NHRIs play a vital role in translating international standards into action at the national level, while also conveying the voices and aspirations of local communities to international forums.

She reaffirmed the message she had previously delivered in New York on behalf of GANHRI during her meeting with the UN Secretary-General, calling for a renewed, stronger, and more forward-looking partnership between the United Nations and NHRIs. “Our role is fundamental in protecting, supporting, and bringing fresh momentum to the international human rights system,” she added, stressing that the effectiveness of human rights work is closely linked to the strength of “our collective voice.”

It is worth noting that the GANHRI meeting in Tbilisi is taking place at a crucial moment, as NHRIs worldwide work to address escalating challenges while safeguarding the achievements made over decades in the field of human rights.