38 INTEGRATING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INTO THE WORK OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION “We believe reproductive rights are important and that our Commission should be protecting them” National Human Rights Committee of Qatar: telephone discussion Mandate and commitment are essential pre-requisites to the effective integration of reproductive rights into the work of NHRIs. For that reason, the existence of a common mandate and the expression of common commitment should both be viewed as important opportunities. While the obstacles in relation to knowledge and expertise are acknowledged as significant, they are not viewed as insurmountable. In other words, all NHRIs participating in this study believe: (i) that they are capable of playing a role in this area; and (ii) that they are able to improve on the work currently being undertaken. These two beliefs could provide a strong foundation on which integration efforts or capacity-building efforts can be built upon with NHRIs. As noted previously, many NHRIs have shifted away from an exclusive focus on civil and political rights and towards a more holistic view of human rights. This shift has important consequences for reproductive rights that tend to cut across a wide range of rights categories. Some NHRIs for example, have located their mandate to work on reproductive rights within the right to health. As noted above, this approach can have important strategic benefits, particularly in countries where reproductive rights are especially sensitive and controversial. 4.5. Opportunity: NHRI experience in integrating new/sensitive human rights issues National human rights institutions have generally had extensive experience in dealing with new or sensitive human rights issues and are often at the vanguard of national discussions of such issues. They have often been forced to work “cleverly and creatively” to overcome the social and cultural barriers to discussion and action. Many respondents identified this experience as a distinct advantage for NHRIs in their efforts to integrate reproductive rights. It was noted, for example, that the human rights angle permits a certain level of detachment from social or cultural sensitivities. NHRIs can point to internationally agreed standards on a particular issue and can direct discussion of even the most controversial issues into familiar rights categories such as nondiscrimination, equality and justice. “The human rights framework provides a way for initiating difficult conversations, such as those about sexual and reproductive rights. National human rights institutions are used to talking about difficult issues, this is a strength and an opportunity”. New Zealand Human Rights Commission, telephone discussion Experience in working on new or controversial areas of human rights advocacy has given many NHRIs a confidence to tackle reproductive rights – even in the face of formidable obstacles. A number of respondents pointed to their work in disability and sexual rights as providing a useful template for more consistent and effective engagement in this area. The most commonly cited comparative experience related to LGBT rights, explored in more detail in the text box below.