“The SCA has noted the information provided by the CHRP that its budget is insufficient to effectively carry out the full breadth of its mandate, including as the National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The SCA emphasizes that, to function effectively, an NHRI must be provided with an appropriate level of funding in order to guarantee its independence and its ability to freely determine its priorities and activities. It must also have the power to allocate funding according to these priorities. In particular, adequate funding should, to a reasonable degree, ensure the gradual and progressive realization of the improvement of the NHRI’s operation and the fulfillment of its mandate.

Provision of adequate funding by the State should, at a minimum, include the allocation of a sufficient amount of resources for mandated activities. 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.

The SCA recommends that the CHRP advocates for the funding necessary to ensure that it can effectively carry out its mandate.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.2 and to its General Observation 1.10 on ‘Adequate funding of NHRIs.”