“The IHCHR has been without a Board of Commissioners since June 2021. According to third-party submissions, the Committee of Experts currently leading the recruitment process of the commissioners as prescribed by Article 7 of the enabling Law No. 53 of 2008 is largely under the control of political parties. The IHCHR reports that the selection and appointment process is ongoing and will be completed soon.

There is currently no provision in the IHCHR Act that safeguards against prolonged vacancies in the leadership of the institution in case of a delay in the appointment process, which has left the institution without a board of commissioners for a prolonged period. The SCA recommends that the NCHR advocate for the expedited appointment of its Board of Commissioners and an amendment to this aspect of the Law to prevent prolonged vacancies in the leadership of the institution.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.1 and to its General Observations 1.1 on ‘The establishment of NHRIs’ and 1.8 on ‘Selection and appointment of the decision-making body of NHRIs’.”