XI
ADMlNlSTRATlON AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT
11.d The credibility of the Commission will depend, in the final analysis, on whether
it can provide the corrective justice expected of it, and whether it can be relied upon
to act with coherence, independence and integrity to promote and protect human rights
in the country.
11.2 These expectations can only be met if the Commission is, itself, rightly
administered, with systems in-place that make the handling of complaints just,
methodical and swift, and the undertaking of projects and programmes well-conceived
and vigorous. This requires management arrangements and personnel equal to the
task, and administrative and logistic support specifically tailored to this end.
11.3 In recent months, the Commission has initiated a major review of its procedures
and of its staffing capabilities and related requirements. With the vast increase in the
number of complaints addressed to the Commission (kindly see Section IX), it was
evident that there was need to amend the Procedural Regulations covering the manner
in which these complaints were handled, in order to make the entire process more
systematic, prompt and transparent. This was done with the help of a specially
constituted team, which also recommended the creation of additional posts in the Law
Division and other Divisions to ensure the oroper observance of the amended
Procedural Regulations. A proposal for the creation of 74 additional posts, in various
grades, w a s thereafter sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs in March 1997 to meet this
specific purpose.
11.4 It appears to the Commission,however, :hat further organizational changes will
be required. The pressure of the ever-increasing number of complaints calls for better
skills and a higher level of competence in the Commission for handling the work-load.
It will thus be necessary to augment the capacity of the Commission with a team of
senior persons having iuaicial experience,functioning immediately below the Members
of the Commission, to assist the latter in the prompt and efficient consideration of
complaints. Likewise, it will be necessary to strengthen appropriately the newly created
Policy Research, Projects and Programmes Division, for the functions entrusted to the
Commission undsr its Statute are many, and all need coherent attention and followup. As these are matters of urgency, the Commission has sought, and been offered,
the pro bono advice of top-ranking management and computerization consultants. It
is absolutely essential for the Commission not only to maintain its momentum but to
tighten and improve its performance with the best possible management systems in-
place.
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