“The SCA notes that the NCHR enabling law does not expressly mandate the encouragement of ratification of international instruments. The SCA acknowledges the response of the NCHR that it follows up on the implementation of recommendations from international human rights mechanisms, including advocating for the ratification of OPCAT. The SCA is of the view that encouraging ratification of or accession to international human rights instruments, and the effective implementation of international human rights instruments to which the state is a party, is a key function of an NHRI. The SCA urges the NCHR to ensure it advocates for amendments to its enabling law to explicitly provide for the mandate to encourage ratification of or accession to international human rights instruments.

The SCA refers to General Observations 1.2 on ‘Human rights mandate’ and 1.3 on “Encouraging ratification or accession to international human rights instruments.”

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