92 HANDBOOK FOR NHRIs ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY engagement in this field depends on whether there are other more specialized bodies addressing gender budgeting in a particular state. The major area of NHRIs engagement with the government is in providing advice on legislation. About two-thirds of NHRIs provide commentary on draft legislation, although this activity appears to be somewhat based on requests and ad hoc in nature rather than the result of a systematic review of all legislation. Less than half (45 per cent) of NHRIs spearhead discussions with government on proposed legislation. This figure suggests that a more proactive and systematic approach might be appropriate. Beyond commenting on legislation, whether draft or in force, monitoring the impact of legislation and policies on women and on gender equality is another, possibly more important, matter to consider. Only 52 per cent of NHRIs reportedly monitor the implementation of policies and legislation. Again, this is an area for targeted institutional investment in the future. Participation in international human rights forums Although 71 per cent of NHRIs report that they liaise with other institutions at the international level, the extent of engagement with international human rights forums is relatively low. For example, 54 per cent of them provide commentary for reports to treaty bodies and 51 per cent promote the ratification of instruments. Only 37 per cent provide independent reports. These figures suggest that more could be done to improve NHRI’s engagement with international mechanisms in the area of women’s rights and gender equality. Organizing NHRIs Institutional priorities in the OSCE region Five areas of priority were identified by NHRIs surveyed, namely discrimination against women in employment, education and services (67 per cent), violence against women (64 per cent), human trafficking (36 per cent), women’s participation in politics and the public sector (33 per cent), and women’s health, including maternal health (30 per cent). Women’s rights and gender equality priorities, as assessed by NHRIs in their own national contexts, are largely similar across the OSCE region. The exist-