“The SCA notes that the draft Law provides for additional responsibilities for the PCRS, including as the National Rapporteur on human trafficking and National Monitoring Mechanism under the CRPD.

The SCA was informed by the PCRS of the importance of being able to attract staff with the relevant and specific expertise necessary for the PCRS’s existing and new mandates. The SCA encourages the PCRS to advocate for additional funding to ensure it is able to carry out its new mandates, as well as to attract and retain adequately qualified and experienced staff through competitive and attractive salaries.

The SCA emphasizes that, to function effectively, an NHRI must be provided with an appropriate level of funding in order to guarantee its ability to freely determine its priorities and activities. In particular, adequate funding should, to a reasonable degree, ensure the gradual and progressive realization of improvement in the NHRI’s operations and the fulfilment of its mandate, including salaries and benefits awarded to its staff comparable to those of civil servants performing similar tasks in other independent institutions of the State. Where an NHRI has been designated with additional responsibilities by the State, additional financial resources should be provided to enable it to assume the responsibilities of discharging these functions.

Provision of adequate funding by the State should, at a minimum, include the following:

a) the allocation of funds for premises that are accessible to the wider community, including for persons with disabilities. In certain circumstances, in order to promote independence and accessibility, this may require that offices are not co-located with other government agencies. Where possible, accessibility should be further enhanced by establishing a permanent regional presence;

b) salaries and benefits awarded to staff comparable to those of civil servants performing similar tasks in other independent institutions of the State;

c) remuneration of members of its decision-making body (where appropriate);

d) the establishment of a well-functioning communications system including telephone and internet; and

e) the allocation of a sufficient amount of resources for mandated activities.“