Chapter 3 - Report of the Research and Policy Development Group One of the tasks of the ICC Bureau is to consider and endorse the recommendations of the ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation (ICC-SCA), which is responsible for evaluating and assessing an NHRI’s compliance with the Paris Principles and to recommend an accreditation status for that NHRI. The Paris Principles are a set of minimum standards, by which NHRIs should abide to ensure the effective implementation of its duties and mandate. ‘A’ status under the ICC accreditation system denotes full compliance with the Paris Principles, ‘B’ status means partial compliance, while ‘C’ status reflects non-compliance. The accreditation status of an NHRI is reviewed every five years by the ICC-SCA to promote continued conformity with the Paris Principles. The Commission strongly hopes that the Government would give due consideration to the recommendations with a view to adopting them. An enhanced SUHAKAM Act would not only promote better outcomes in the fulfilment of the Commission’s functions, but would also be in line with ICC-SCA’s call for greater compliance with the Paris Principles. The Commission was last accredited in 2010 and is due to be reviewed for re-accreditation in October 2015. Despite its current ‘A’ status, the Commission is mindful of the evolving nature of the ICC accreditation process, which progressively sets higher standards for NHRIs. On this account, the Commission made a submission in December 2013 to the Government via the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, YB Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, proposing that the Commission’s founding law, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Act, be amended to further strengthen the Commission’s mandate and powers to allow greater efficacy in the promotion and protection of human rights in Malaysia. In essence, the proposal included recommendations that seek to: i. Further strengthen the selection process of Commissioners; ii. Appoint full-time and/or part-time Commissioners; iii. Increase the period of the Commissioners’ terms; iv. Enable the Commission to conduct unannounced visits to places of detention; v. Enable the Commission to undertake mediations; vi. Formalise a consultation process between the Government and the Commission in the formulation or amendment of laws; vii. Ensure that adequate funds are allocated to the Commission annually via Parliament; viii. Enable the Commission to have an amicus curiae role in selected court cases that involve alleged human rights violations; and ix. Ensure that the Commission’s Annual Report is debated in Parliament. 81