“T“The NCHR has submitted a limited number of parallel reports to United Nations Treaty Bodies. The NCHR notes that it engages in preparation of the State periodic reports as a member of the taskforce on national treaty reporting and follow-up on recommendations and that it does not issue parallel reports when its advice is incorporated into the State’s reports.

The SCA does not agree with NCHR’s reasoning that its advice, when incorporated into the State’s periodic reports, negates the need to submit parallel reports on the human rights situation in Rwanda.

While it is appropriate for the government to consult the NCHR in preparing periodic reports and for the NCHR to provide advice on the State’s periodic reports, the NCHR should also independently engage United Nations Treaty Bodies on the human rights situation in the country as an effective tool for the promotion and protection of human rights domestically.

The SCA therefore recommends that the NCHR enhance its engagement with the international human rights system in particular the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms and the United Nations Treaty Bodies through submission of parallel reports.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle A.3 (d) and (e) and to its General Observation 1.4 on ‘Interaction with the international human rights system’.”