Principles relating to the status of national institutions Competence and responsibilities 1- A national institution shall be vested with competence to promote and protect human rights. 2- A national institution shall be given as broad a mandate as possible, which shall be clearly set forth in a constitutional or legislative text, specifying its composition and its sphere of competence. 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 throgh the exercise of its power to hear a matter without higher referral, opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports on any matters concerning the promotion 7