Section 13 of the Law requires NCHR to submit annual and thematic reports to Parliament within a period not exceeding three (3) months from the end of the fiscal year and reserve a copy thereof to the President of the Republic, the Cabinet and the Supreme Court. However, there is no requirement for NCHR reports to be debated by Parliament. 

The SCA notes that, in practice, the Parliament does not debate the report and that the proposed amendment before Parliament is silent on this requirement. 

The SCA highlights that it is important for the enabling law to establish a process whereby the NHRI reports are required to be publicly circulated, and tabled, discussed and considered by parliament. The SCA therefore recommends NCHR to advocate for its reports to be discussed by parliament. 

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