Part II National human rights institutions’ domestic activities and functions THE ABUJA GUIDELINES209 The Abuja Guidelines provide an example of how NHRIs might navigate their relationship with their State. These guidelines were developed to encourage constructive relationships between the parliaments of Commonwealth States and their respective NHRIs.210 The guidelines specify actions that parliaments and NHRIs can take to support a constructive relationship that advances the protection and promotion of human rights. Actions that parliamentarians can take to support NHRIs include: • Ensuring that adequate resources and facilities are provided to NHRIs to enable them to perform their functions effectively • Promptly debating the annual report and other reports of NHRIs in parliament and promptly tabling the Government’s response to the report in parliament • Inviting Commissioners/Ombudsmen to meet with them regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest • Ensuring that their constituents are made aware of the work of NHRIs • Ensuring that part of the mandate of NHRIs is to advise parliament on the conformity or otherwise of any legislation that may affect the enjoyment of human rights in the country • Considering revising their standing orders in order to enable them to develop a more effective relationship with NHRIs • Ensuring that recommendations for action from NHRIs are followed up and implemented. Actions that NHRIs can take to support parliaments include: • Establishing mechanisms to liaise with parliamentarians • Commissioners/Ombudsmen should obtain a thorough knowledge of the role, functions and constraints of parliament and parliamentarians • Commissioners/Ombudsmen should provide parliamentarians with regular expert, independent advice on national, regional and international human rights issues, instruments and mechanisms • Submitting annual reports both on its work and on the state of human rights in the country • Advising parliaments on the creation of human rights committees in parliament and cooperating with such committees. 2. PROMOTING ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS 209 210 A State’s legal framework and the existence of a human rights culture within the State’s organs are foundations for the protection, promotion and realization of indigenous peoples’ human rights. This legal framework includes adopting or becoming a party to international instruments containing human rights norms and standards, as well as the subsequent domestic implementation of these standards. 209 Abuja Guidelines on the Relationship Between Parliaments, Parliamentarians and Commonwealth National Human Rights Institutions (2004), available at www.agora-parl.org/node/1514. 210 Ibid. Chapter 8: Promoting domestic compliance with the Declaration | 73