Annex 1 General Comment Provisions related to Reproductive Rights General Comment No. 10 – The role of NHRIs in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights, 1998 In Paragraph 3, “The Committee notes that national institutions have a potentially crucial role to play in promoting and ensuring the ­indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights. Unfortunately, this role has too often either not been accorded to the institution or has been neglected or given a low priority by it. It is therefore essential that full attention be given to economic, social and cultural rights in all of the relevant activities of these institutions. The following list is indicative of the types of activities that can be, and in some instances already have been, undertaken by national institutions in relation to these rights: 1. The promotion of educational and information programmes designed to enhance awareness and understanding of economic, social and cultural rights, both within the population at large and among particular groups such as the public service, the judiciary, the private sector and the labour movement; 2. The scrutinizing of existing laws and administrative acts, as well as draft bills and other proposals, to ensure that they are consistent with the requirements of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 3. Providing technical advice, or undertaking surveys in relation to economic, social and cultural rights, including at the request of the public authorities or other appropriate agencies; 4. The identifi cation of national-level benchmarks against which the realization of Covenant obligations can be measured; 5. Conducting research and inquiries designed to ascertain the extent to which particular economic, social and cultural rights are being realized, either within the State as a whole or in areas or in relation to communities of particular vulnerability; 6. Monitoring compliance with specifi c rights recognized under the Covenant and providing reports thereon to the public authorities and civil society; and 125