UNDP-OHCHR TOOLKIT Chapter 4: The Rule of Law and the Core Protection Mandate Objective: Set out in detail the roles and responsibilities of NHRIs, including the human rights framework at the national and international levels with a focus on how NHRIs relate to the UN system. The rule of law and the administration of justice are State responsibilities. NHRIs also have a role in strengthening both areas. This Chapter examines the role of NHRIs and the particular strategies and activities that NHRIs can undertake to strengthen the rule of law. A related and crucial aspect of the NHRI mandate is core protection work. The OHCHR considers core protection issues to be one of the more important elements in determining the credibility of NHRIs at both the national and international levels. This chapter also emphasizes the role of NHRIs in the core protection mandate such as: 11 General activities relating to the prevention of torture, summary execution and arbitrary detention 11 Complaints 11 Detention 11 General from detainees monitoring activities relating to the protection of human rights defenders Chapter 5: NHRIs, Human Development and Democratic Governance Objective: Highlight possible roles and added value of NHRIs in the larger development context, particularly on influencing development processes, with concrete case studies in areas such as participation in the formulation of poverty reduction strategies, decentralisation programmes, policy and budget monitoring. While many NHRIs tend to focus on civil and political rights, they also have important roles to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights and to strengthen the ties between these rights and ESC rights. UNCTs can assist NHRIs in this work at the national level, including through supporting the integration of the Millennium Development Goals to develop a road map on programmatic priorities. Adapting these to the particularities of each country permits effective target-setting and programming for NHRIs. Working within cultural contexts is integral to a NHRI’s approach to development and human rights, and especially to the effectiveness of NHRIs working to achieve equality. Working within cultural traditions can allow the NHRI to work with social and cultural leaders to effect attitudinal and practical changes. With the support of UNCTs, NHRIs can be informed of relevant norms and documents related to cultural rights and their relationship to other human rights. Because of the important links between democratic governance and human development, NHRIs can look to strategic planning processes as a way to identify specific areas of priority in the development context that have implications for human rights. The collaboration of UNCTs, NHRIs and UNDP is necessary to the creation of an enabling environment to achieve MDGs. NHRIs can also play an effective role in poverty reduction strategies, by maintaining a strong human rightsbased approach to Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). Their role may include seeking involvement in the development and monitoring of a PRSP, and intervening where necessary. xxiv