Part II Protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls: NHRIs in action Chapter 6: Conducting inquiries into systemic violations of women’s and girls’ human rights KEY QUESTIONS • What factors should NHRIs consider when deciding whether to conduct a public inquiry into violations of women’s and girls’ human rights? • What steps are involved in establishing and conducting a public inquiry? • What evidence should be collected during the course of a public inquiry? • How can NHRIs encourage and facilitate the involvement of women in public inquiries, most particularly women whose rights are directly affected? • What good practice examples can NHRIs draw on for inspiration and guidance? BASIS FOR NHRI INVOLVEMENT PARIS PRINCIPLES Competence and responsibilities 3. A national institution shall, inter alia, have the following responsibilities: (a) To submit to the Government, Parliament and any other competent body, on an advisory basis either at the request of the authorities concerned or through the exercise of its power to hear a matter without higher referral, opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports on any matters concerning the promotion and protection of human rights; the national institution may decide to publicize them; these opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports, as well as any prerogative of the national institution, shall relate to the following areas: (ii) Any situation of violation of human rights which it decides to take up; (iii) The preparation of reports on the national situation with regard to human rights in general, and on more specific matters; (iv) Drawing the attention of the Government to situations in any part of the country where human rights are violated and making proposals to it for initiatives to put an end to such situations and, where necessary, expressing an opinion on the positions and reactions of the Government. Methods of operation Within the framework of its operation, the national institution shall: (b) Hear any person and obtain any information and any document necessary for assessing situations falling within its competence. Chapter 6: Conducting inquiries into systemic violations of women’s and girls’ human rights | 65