“Article 58 of the internal rules of procedure of the Commission clarify the role of the Secretary General, including contributing to the strategic direction of the institution, management of the Secretariat and its work, as well as preparation and participation in meetings of the Commission, without voting rights. The SCA notes that the decision-making body of the CNCDH does not include full-time members.

The CNCDH indicated that the part-time engagement of members of the Commission is a deliberate choice which allows for the institution to rely on the experience and expertise of each member, and it has not prioritised advocacy to ensure full-time membership. 

The SCA considers that the enabling legislation of the NHRI should provide that members of its decision-making body include full-time members. This assists in ensuring a stable tenure for the members, freedom of the NHRI from actual or perceived conflict of interests, and the effective fulfilment of the NHRI’s functions.

The SCA encourages the CNCDH to advocate for an amendment to ensure that its decision-making body includes full-time members with voting rights

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.3 and to its General Observation 2.2 on ‘Full-time members of an NHRI’.”