Article 9 of the enabling Law states that the CNDH submits its report to the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the National Assembly. However, the CNDH’s reports are not discussed by Parliament. The CNDH informed the SCA that, in the context of ongoing negotiations to amend the law, it was notified that provisions within the Parliament’s internal regulations already allow for the CNDH’s report to be debated during parliamentary sessions.

The SCA considers it important that the enabling law of an NHRI establish a process whereby its reports are required to be widely circulated, discussed and considered by the legislature. Furthermore, the CNDH indicated that the follow-up to its recommendations is carried out through direct engagement by its Chairperson with relevant authorities, including the Office of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Committee on General Policy, Legislation, Institutions, Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, as well as key ministries.

While the SCA acknowledges the value of such high-level relationships, it considers that more formalised institutional mechanisms should be envisaged in such cases.

Annual, special, and thematic reports serve to highlight key developments in the human rights situation in a country, provide a public account, and therefore public scrutiny, of the effectiveness of an NHRI. The reports also provide a means by which an NHRI can monitor respect for human rights by the Government and make recommendations.

The SCA encourages the CNDH to continue to engage with Parliament on its annual and thematic reports and recommends that it advocates for amendments to its Law to explicitly establish a process whereby its reports are to be widely circulated, discussed, and considered by the legislature. The SCA also encourages the CNDH to continue strengthening the follow- up and implementation of its recommendations.

The SCA refers to Paris Principles A.1, A.2, A.3 and to its General Observation 1.6 on ‘Recommendation by NHRIs as well as 1.11 on ‘Annual reports of NHRIs’.