SECTION TWO: The Leaders Finally, other senior staff also share in the leadership role. They are the directors or heads of staff units who are responsible for the work of those units, the supervision of the staff in the units and the control of the units’ budgets. With the SEO, they will constitute the staff leadership team within the institution. Recognising that leadership is shared among all those occupying these kinds of positions is important to maximise the effectiveness of NHRIs and to ensure that all the leaders contribute fully to their work. It will drive collegiality, mutual respect and support, and shared responsibility. No NHRI is a one-person operation. 2. The legal criteria for NHRI leaders The NHRI’s founding law will usually establish some criteria for the statutory officeholders. Some criteria may relate to the personal qualities and qualifications of the individuals and others may relate to the broader composition of the institution as a whole, in particular its pluralism. Staff positions will each have a job description and selection criteria attached to it, some criteria related to the specific position and some generic. NHRI founding laws differ from one institution to another. Typically, the laws set out some standard criteria that NHRI leaders must meet to be eligible for appointment: a. capability of fulfilling the position with independence and impartiality b. extensive knowledge, skills or experience in one or more of the following: i. the principles of human rights and relevant domestic and international human rights law ii. the promotion and protection of human rights iii. good governance and public administration c. demonstrated commitment to the achievement of the NHRI’s objectives. In addition, the laws for commission-model NHRIs will often set out criteria related to the composition of the NHRI’s leadership as a whole. In considering the appointments, the overall composition of the commission may have to be considered to ensure that the commission as a whole has a. knowledge of or experience in i. domestic human rights law and international human rights law ii. current economic, employment and social issues iii. cultural issues and the needs and aspirations of individuals, different communities and population groups in society iv. other diverse matters likely to come before the commission b. skills or experience in i. human rights advocacy ii. public education iii. public governance, administration and financial management and iv. civil society, academia, social welfare, community development and law c. equitable representation of men and women and of the diversity of society, taking into account factors such as ethnicity, religion, culture and language. 11