Vll NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 7.1 To "encourage the efforts of non-governmental organizations working in the field of human rights" is a statutory responsibility of the Commission under Section 12(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. In reality, this is not just a responsibility, but a necessity. The promotion and protection of human rights cannot possibly gather the momentum it requires without the fullest cooperation between the Commission and NGOs. They are, as the Commission has noted earlier, each others' most natural allies and most honest critics. 7.2 With a view to drawing on the talents and commitments of NGOS: the Commission has been endeavouring to gather data, in systematic form, regarding the activities in which they could best cooperate with the Commission. To this end, a questionnaire was devised, which was published in the Commission's Newsletter, seeking information from such NGOs as might wish to work with the ~ o m m k s i o n (Annexure 11). A total of some 100 NGOs have responded to the questionnaire. The data so gathered will be invaluable to the Commission as it seeks partners, in different parts of the country, to work with it in one or other area related to the promotion and protection of human rights. The data could'also be helpful to NGOs in networking with each other, in strengthening each other's capacities and in avoiding duplication in their work. The Commission is often asked by potential donors for its views on the capability and location of NGOs in various parts of the country working in various fields related to human rights. The data base being prepared could also assist in providing such advice when sought. As in the past, NGOs were closely involved with the Commission through the complaints they submitted to it. These covered the entire gamut of human rights issues before the Commission. Further, NGOs organized, or participated in, numerous seminarslworkshops in which the Commission was represented. Frequently, they provided the impetus for the Commission's efforts, for instance, in regard to the special problems of dalits and tribals, child labour, child prostitution, the condition of refugees and other vulnerable groups. Such instances are also recounted in other parts of this report. The issue of jail reforms, too, attracted major NGO participation as did their concern with issues of human rights in areas of insurgency or terrorism. On occasions, the efforts of NGOs have drawn the Commission into the matters of consequence to the south' Asian region more widely, child labour and child prostitution being such subjects. Further, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) arranged a seminar in Dhaka, Bangladesh which dealt., inter alia, with the issue of National 7.3