ANNUAL REPORT 2011 human rights laws in Bangladesh and the compliance of national laws with those international commitments. The methodology and major findings of the 2011 NHRC baseline survey are also described. Chapter 5: Institutional Development details the achievements of the Commission in the areas of organizational management, networking and raising its own profile on the national scene and in the international sphere. It elaborates on the NHRC achievements of earning both accreditation with “B” status by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), as well as Associate Membership in the Asia Pacific Forum (APF). The chapter also explains the results of the extensive consultative process completed by the Commission on the Strategic Plan 2010-15, which was formally adopted in the spring of 2011. The NHRC continued and expanded its international outreach and cooperation through participation of NHRC Members, Secretary and Directors in conferences and study tours abroad, as well as consultations with other national and regional human rights institutions. These exchanges allowed the Commission to establish or reinforce ties and share knowledge and experiences relevant to human rights protection and promotion. The Commission also hosted various foreign officials and international delegations in Dhaka. The NHRC delineates some of the main obstacles to its progress in serving the people of Bangladesh in Chapter 6: Challenges to the NHRC and the Way Forward. These challenges continue to be both external and internal. Some of the most significant external challenges include the magnitude and complexity of violations, lack of public awareness, and a negative domestic political climate. Internal challenges include limited human and financial resources and 16 management difficulties. The final chapter also offers the NHRC’s recommendations regarding its ability to function effectively and carry out its mandate, and the opportunities the Commission intends to pursue on the road ahead. The Annexure includes key documents and reports relating to the organizational development and activities of the NHRC in 2011: (1) NHRC Organogram; (2) NHRC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Complaints Handling (Draft December 2011); (3) Consultative Workshops on NHRC Strategic Plan at a Glance; (4) Presentation on Recommendations of Ten Consultative Workshops on NHRC Strategic Plan; (5) Core Human Rights Instruments Ratified by Bangladesh. The NHRC would like to express its deep appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh for its ongoing support of the Commission. Thanks are due also to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which, together with the Government, has established the Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development Project (BNHRC-CDP) for the period July 2010 – June 2015. BNHRC-CDP has been generously supported in 2011 by project donors including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The Commission is confident that, working in close collaboration with our stakeholders, supporters, and especially the people of our county, a solid foundation is emerging for a strong and independent human rights watchdog in Bangladesh. The NHRC trusts this report provides the Honourable President, the Government, NHRC development partners, and all other stakeholders with a comprehensive review of the Commission’s achievements during 2011 and the challenges ahead.