Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis of the National Human Rights Institutions in South Asia 30 NHRIs were also asked about their current practices of publicising the results of monitoring activities which includes climate-related actions, two NHRIs (India, Bangladesh) indicated that they do it regularly, while one NHRI (Nepal) indicated occasionally, and the remaining three NHRIs (Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) indicated that they rarely do this (Figure 6). When asked about the challenges they encounter when reporting on human rights violations related to CCMA, a number of challenges were identified. The most common challenge reported was lack of credible data, followed by limited access to affected areas. In addition, lack of staff knowledge, lack of expertise in CCMA, lack of resources and government censorship and pushback are also reported as challenges facing the NHRIs (Figure 7). At the individual NHRI level, NHRC Bangladesh actively monitors the severe flooding exacerbated by climate change, particularly affecting marginalised communities. The NHRC’s Committee on Climate Change, Environment, and Disaster Management plays a critical role in advocacy and advising the government on environmental issues. Despite its commitment, the NHRC Bangladesh faces limitations in investigative capacities and struggles with illegal activities affecting indigenous territories. Nonetheless, the NHRC’s continuous communication with high-level officials illustrates its proactive stance in integrating human rights into climate change discussions. NHRC India has established a core group comprising government and civil society experts focused on climate change. This body discusses actionable recommendations and proactively monitors climate-related issues, such as displacement from large projects. The NHRC’s ability to take suo moto actions demonstrates a responsive approach to upholding human rights. However, challenges persist in tribal areas where constitutional protections exist for indigenous populations, indicating the complex interplay of development and human rights in the context of climate change. In the Maldives, HRCM reported that the Commission currently lacks a dedicated focus on climate change-related monitoring and investigation. Although there have been some efforts to assess environmental rights, direct activities evaluating climate change’s human rights and human mobility impacts remain limited. The HRCM has engaged with the government to address specific environmental issues, such as flooding in different parts of the country. This highlights the need for a more structured approach to climate change monitoring and its implications on human rights, particularly concerning displacement and property damage. NHRC Nepal primarily monitors disaster response to climate-related events like floods. However, the Commission faces challenges in linking climate change to human rights due to insufficient knowledge and financial constraints. The NHRC’s efforts to monitor air pollution and disaster impacts indicate an awareness of the broader implications of environmental factors,

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