“The Ombudsman has had limited engagement with United Nations Treaty Bodies and the Universal Periodic Review. While the SCA notes information from the Ombudsman that it has submitted a parallel report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and that it participates in activities of the government national reporting and follow-up mechanism, the SCA is of the view that efforts can be increased in this regard.
The Paris Principles recognise that monitoring and engaging with the international human rights system, in particular the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms (Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review) and the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies, can be an effective tool for NHRIs in the promotion and protection of human rights domestically. Depending on existing domestic priorities and resources, effective engagement with the international human rights system may include:
- submitting parallel or shadow reports to the Universal Periodic Review, Special Procedure mechanisms and Treaty Bodies Committees.
- monitoring and promoting the implementation of relevant recommendations originating from the human rights system.
The SCA therefore recommends that the Ombudsman enhance its engagement with the international human rights system, in particular the Human Right Council and its mechanisms and the United Nations Treaty Bodies through the submission of parallel reports.
The SCA refers to Paris Principle A.3 (d) and (e) and to its General Observation 1.4 on ‘Interaction with the international human rights system.”