NATIONAL ACTION 4: Develop ‘early warning systems’ • Mainstreaming standards on HRD protection and coordinating action between different parts of the NHRI on promotion and protection of HRDs.71 • Managing any complaints-handling systems. A few examples of focal points for HRDs are in the NHRIs of India72 and Uganda.73 Among other things, the Ugandan focal point reviews draft legislation relevant to HRDs, informing the NHRI’s inputs on the matter.74 Case study: The NHRIs in Azerbaijan, Denmark and Portugal have developed focal points for vulnerable populations, including children and older persons. The Portuguese focal point provides personalised assistance through specialised helplines, providing information, directing users to competent authorities, establishing direct contact with those responsible to ensure that the rights of the citizens are being respected, and following up on the situation.75 Like any mechanism relevant to HRDs, this should be responsive to the national context and developed in consultation with national level HRDs. It should also not work in isolation from focal points on other issues, or the broader work of your NHRI. An intersectional approach to the protection of HRDs is essential, taking into account various elements of vulnerability, such as gender, race and ethnicity. Some potential elements of HRD focal points include: • A mandate to protect and promote the rights of HRDs. • Personnel with relevant experience and understanding on the rights of HRDs, trained on HRD’s rights, risks, challenges, and on how to investigate violations.76 The “Capacity development programme on HRDs” run by the APF is an example of such training.77 • Multiple communications channels with HRDs, potentially including national hotlines, as discussed further in sub-section E below. • Fulfilment of some functions of an EWS and/or a protection mechanism (see sub-section G below). For example, monitoring the situation of HRDs, as well as alerting relevant stakeholders and responding to risks. D. Develop and equip rapid response teams Rapid response teams can respond rapidly to threats, providing immediate protection to HRDs. Ideally a rapid response team is flexible, so that it can provide quick responses to unanticipated events. 71 https://www.humanrights.dk/sites/humanrights.dk/files/media/document/Lorion%20Defining%20GHRFPs%20-%20 DIHR%202021%20Final.pdf p.57 72 https://hrcnet.nic.in/HRCNet/public/NHRCStatisticsList.aspx?Statistics=HRDAll 73 https://www.uhrc.ug/about/administrative-structure/ 74 https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/22/47 par.92 75 https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GANHRI-UNICEF-Children%E2%80%99s-Rights-in-National-Human-Rights-Institutions.pdf p.38, 39 76 https://ganhri.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/GANHRI-UNICEF-Children%E2%80%99s-Rights-in-National-Human-Rights-Institutions.pdf p. 43 77 https://community.asiapacificforum.net/ 31