“In accordance with Article XIII Section 18(1) of the Constitution and Section 3(i) of Executive Order (EO) 163, the CHRP is mandated to investigate all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights. The SCA acknowledges that although the CHRP does not have an explicit mandate with respect to economic, social, and cultural rights, the CHRP interprets its mandate in a broad manner and conducts activities in this regard. 

In March 2017, the SCA encouraged the CHRP to continue its advocacy for an expanded protection mandate through the CHR Charter and to encourage ratification or accession to international human rights instruments. 

The SCA notes that Section 15 of the proposed CHR Charter explicitly mandates the CHRP to promote and protect all human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights and Section 22(d) mandates the CHRP to recommend ratification of, or accession to, international human rights instruments and ensure their implementation. The SCA is of the view that these provisions, if passed in their present form, would address the SCA’s previously stated concerns. The SCA therefore recommends that the CHRP continues to advocate for the passage of the CHR Charter. 

The SCA refers to Paris Principles A.1, A.2 and A.3 and to its General Observations 1.2 on ‘Human rights mandate’ and 1.3 on ‘Encouraging ratification or accession to international human rights instruments.’”