2. the national human rights institution mandate the organization within government may be the most productive for the NHRI. In any event, for its internal purposes a NHRI should monitor all work done within the field of reproductive rights, regardless of organization. 10. Many NHRIs have incorporated the practice of developing periodic strategic plans. Rather than carrying out unrelated individual activities while worthy and important, a strategic plan enables a NHRI to consider how each of its activities furthers its overall goals and 8. Many NHRIs are doing work within whether the activities can be organized reproductive rights without being aware in such a way as to create synergies. A of this. They might have considered NHRI that decides to take on the chalcomplaints of lack of access to maternal lenges of reproductive rights should care but seen this as only a violation of include reproductive rights in its stratethe right to health. They might have done gic plan. promotional work on early marriages but seen this as an issue only relating to the 11. It is always good to lead by example. rights of women and/or children. ConseTherefore, a NHRI should ensure to have quently, a NHRI should consider making internal policies, programmes and regua review of what it already does within lations in place that protect, respect and the field of reproductive rights. This will promote the reproductive rights of the also enable the NHRI to consider if some staff within the NHRI. This includes the of the activities being carried out can be following: strengthened and if a reproductive rights angle can be added to its other activities. a. Female staff should be allowed maternity leave for at least 16 weeks 9. In addition, or as an alternative, to in accordance with WHO recomdeveloping its own plan of action, a mendations and with reasonable NHRI could develop a joint plan with pay. Naturally, this is less of a conrelevant partners. Such partners could cern in countries that have sufficient include other independent commisrules and practices in place in gensions (some countries like India have eral. Leave should also be available for example women’s commissions or to fathers. This is not only for the ombudspersons), ministries or departfathers’ sake but also emphasizes the ments within government (some counresponsibility of both parents. Breasttries have special secretaries dealing feeding mothers should be able to with women’s rights, for example), plan their work in such a way as to professional groups, and relevant parts enable breastfeeding according to of civil society, who might have more WHO advice (exclusive breastfeeding or different knowledge with respect for the first six months of the child’s to reproductive rights. A NHRI could life). The NHRI in India provides six consider involving other relevant state months maternity leave with further actors in this work, such as law enforceoptions for childcare leave and gives ment, the judiciary, or the health and 15 days paternity leave at the time of education departments, etc. birth. 37