The INDH informs that although its enabling law is silent on the explicit mandate to encourage ratification of international human rights instruments, it participates in legislative debates where draft laws are discussed where the INDH has the opportunity to encourage the ratification of international human rights instruments.

The SCA notes the information provided by the INDH regarding the recommendation made by the governmental Advisory Committee for the Strengthening of the National Human Rights Institution to explicitly include in the INDH´s enabling law the mandate to encourage ratification of international human rights instruments.

The SCA highlights that encouraging ratification of, or accession to, regional and international human rights instruments, as well as monitoring the effective implementation of those instruments to which the state is party, is a vital function of the NHRI.

The SCA encourages the INDH to continue interpreting its mandate in a broad manner and advocates for an express mandate to encourage ratification and accession to international human rights instruments, including through the proposed amendments to the Law of the INDH.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle A.3 (b) and (c) and to its General Observation 1.3 on ‘Encouraging ratification or accession to international human rights instruments’.