“Section 26 of the Act, 2024, provides that the HRCZ shall submit its annual report to the President and to the National Assembly. The SCA further notes that the Law does not provide that the report shall be discussed by Parliament.

While the HRCZ indicated that it collaborates with the National Assembly including discussion about its annual reports, the SCA considers it important that the enabling law of an NHRI establish a process whereby the institution’s reports are required to be widely circulated, discussed and considered by the legislature.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle A.3 and to its General Observation 1.11 on ‘Annual reports of NHRIs’.”