Part II: Preventing torture: NHRIs in action Chapter 3: Promoting legal and procedural reforms KEY QUESTIONS • What type of legal reforms should NHRIs promote in relation to the prevention of torture? • What fundamental legal and procedural safeguards should NHRIs promote? • What other detention procedures should NHRIs promote? LEGAL BASIS FOR NHRI INVOLVEMENT Paris Principles61 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 it a power to hear a matter without any referral, opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports on any matters concerning the protection and promotion 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 area: (i) Any legislative or administrative provisions, as well as provisions relating to the judicial organization, intended to preserve and extend the protection of human rights. In that connection, the national institution shall examine the legislation and administrative provisions in force, as well as 61 The complete text of the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (commonly known as the “Paris Principles”) is available in the Further Readings section of the CD-Rom. 43