CHAPTER II: NIHR ROLE IN THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS PREFACE: The role of national human rights institutions is crystallized through their constitutional or legislative mandate in the field of the “promotion and protection of human rights”. This role is clearly demonstrated in “Paris Principles�� relating to the Status of National Institutions in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights as the constitution of national human rights institutions and a constructive and effective actor in the promotion and protection of human rights in the state system. These institutions have a role in “promotion” through the deployment of a human rights culture through the various available means, including hosting conferences, training courses, workshops and lectures to the public, or specific target groups, as well as training in the field of human rights, and publishing and printing educational brochures related to national institutions. The lack of knowledge of human rights principles among all segments of society causes the violation of these principles because the promotion and entrenched awareness of human rights concepts provide protection for these rights as a whole. The “protection” of human rights is the corresponding core pillar of the role of national institutions in the promotion of these rights. This has been clearly reflected in “Paris Principles”, which confer national institutions quasi-judicial competence through their authority to receive, examine and refer complaints of human rights to the competent authorities, follow-up the complaints, or inform those concerned of the procedures that should be applied, help them take such procedures, or assist in the settlement of complaints with the relevant authorities. The role of national institutions in the field of “protection” includes monitoring everything that would prejudice the right of individuals to enjoy the rights and public freedoms prescribed for them. Monitoring is a necessary tool to ensure the degree and extent of the state respect for its legal or international obligations related to human rights. This “protection” requires the national institutions to conduct field visits to places where human rights violations are likely to occur. Accordingly, this chapter will explore NIHR role in the promotion and protection of human rights in two basic sections. The first section indicates its activities in the field of promotion of human rights, while the second section will be dedicated to reviewing its efforts in the protection of those rights. 45