It was established in 1993 upon a presidential decree issued by President Yasser Arafat on September 30th 1993, in compliance with article 31 of the Palestinian Basic Law (1993) that states that an "independent commission for human rights shall be established pursuant to a law that will specify its formation, duties and jurisdiction". The presidential decree was subsequently published in the official gazette in 1995 (No. 59/1995). Dr. Hanan Ashrawi was ICHR's first Commissioner General.