“Article 248(1) of the Constitution states that the NHRCN shall consist of a Chairperson and four other members who shall be involved in the field of the protection and promotion of human rights or have rendered outstanding contribution to various fields of national life.

The SCA notes that NHRCN currently has two former Justices of the Supreme Court, two Senior Advocates and one leader of NGO as its members with only one of them being a female. The SCA further notes the inclusion of a provision in the NHRCN draft Law to ensure the presence of at least two women within the five-member body.

In practice, the SCA sees the current composition of the membership of the NHRCN with only one woman Commissioner and 33% of staff being women is not sufficient to meet the pluralism requirements of the Paris Principles. The SCA is of the view that a diverse decision-making and staff body facilitates the NHRI appreciation of, and capacity to engage on, all human rights issues affecting the society in which it operates and promotes the accessibility of the NHRI to all citizens. 

The SCA recommends that the NHRC continues to advocate for the amendments to its Law, to ensure a pluralistic balance in its composition and take further actions towards the equitable representation of women within its staff complement.  

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.1 and to its General Observation 1.7 on ‘Ensuring pluralism of the NHRI’.”