“The SCA notes that the mandate provided to UNIA by the inter-federal agreement is limited and does not cover the full range of human rights. Rather, it is limited to activities to combat racism and discrimination, and activities undertaken as the National Monitoring Mechanism under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The SCA notes that, in practice, UNIA interprets its mandate broadly and undertakes a range of activities to promote and protect human rights, both on their own and in cooperation with other human rights bodies.

However, the SCA is of the view that a NHRI should be legislatively mandated with specific functions to both promote and protect all human rights. An NHRI’s mandate should be interpreted in a broad, liberal and purposive manner to promote a progressive definition of human rights which includes all rights set out in international, regional and domestic instruments, including economic, social and cultural rights

The SCA encourages UNIA to advocate for appropriate amendments to its enabling law to vest it with the mandate to promote and protect all human rights.”