“The CAHR has management and control over its allocated budget and has effectively undertaken activities within its existing budget. The SCA notes that the CAHR requires additional funding, including to allow recruitment of staff at senior level, in view of its expanded mandates of National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT and National Monitoring Mechanism under CRPD.
The SCA emphasizes that, to function effectively, an NHRI must be provided with an appropriate level of funding in order to guarantee its ability to freely determine its priorities and activities. In particular, adequate funding should, to a reasonable degree, ensure the gradual and progressive realization of improvement in the NHRI’s operations and the fulfilment of its mandate. Provision of adequate funding by the State should, at a minimum, include the following:
- Salaries and benefits awarded to staff comparable to those of civil servants performing similar tasks in other independent institutions of the State;
- Remuneration of members of the decision-making body (where appropriate);
The SCA highlights that NHRIs must be provided with sufficient resources to permit employment and retention of staff with the requisite qualifications and experience to fulfil the NHRI’s mandate. The SCA recommends that the CAHR continues to advocate for an increase of its budget allocation and an appropriate level of funding to carry out its mandate. Such resources should allow for salary levels, and terms and conditions of employment, equivalent to those of other independent State agencies.”