What a NHRI can do is to establish such a close relationship with the relevant departments and other administrative units bearing direct relevance that the departments and other administrative units will be prepared to and interested in sharing all relevant proposed administrative regulations with the NHRI. With respect to reproductive rights, departments and agencies dealing with health, gender issues, women, children (adolescents) and justice and legal issues would seem relevant. In some countries close contact can be established with strong civil society actors that are already monitoring new legal and administrative developments; this is but one of many good reasons for establishing close relations with civil society actors that address reproductive rights, see further below under Monitoring and reporting at the national level. MONITORING AND REPORTING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL UGANDA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MONITORING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND MINORITY RIGHTS To enhance monitoring, the Ugandan Human Rights Commission has established the ­Vulnerable Persons Unit that handles issues of women’s rights, rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS, among other groups. A specific unit, also under the Directorate of Monitoring and Inspections, has been established to focus on the right to health; this unit monitors the situation on the right to health in general. Both these units are involved with issues of reproductive rights. According to the Paris Principles a NHRI shall make reports and advise the government, parliament and any other competent bodies on the national human rights situation in general and with respect to specific matters, on situations of human rights violations in any part of the country with proposals for mitigating actions, and on any human rights violation. Based on monitoring as set out below, a NHRI should include matters with respect to reproductive rights in general reports on human rights to the relevant competent bodies. The NHRI in India will 42 commence including issues of reproductive rights in its Annual Report to Parliament. A NHRI should also consider the benefits of preparing special reports on reproductive rights and taking steps to push the competent bodies to consider such reports and take relevant action. All such reports should in ordinary cases be shared with civil society and be disseminated via the press. It is important that all efforts with respect to monitoring and reporting are not seen only as the NHRI giving its expert opinions to

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