Power to visit all places of deprivation of liberty – NHRIs should have ­authority to make regular visits to all places of detention, at times of their ­ choosing, ­preferably with minimal notice. Their powers should be those foreseen for ­national ­ preventive mechanisms in the Optional Protocol to the Convention against ­Torture. Visits should be comprehensive (encompassing all ­categories of persons ­ deprived of their liberty, including those detained under an ­administrative order, and all areas of a detention facility) and be repeated, so that inspectors can evaluate progress over time. Mandate to monitor ESC rights and civil and political rights – NHRIs should have within their purview all universally protected human rights, without order or hierarchy. Authority to monitor human rights compliance by private and public bodies – Although their mandate in relation to individual complaints may be limited, ­institutions should monitor the activities of all relevant public and private ­bodies, including businesses and individuals, that may have an impact on the ­enjoyment of human rights. Monitoring the performance of relevant authorities – No public entity should be excluded from the monitoring function of national institutions. In particular, law enforcement agencies, such as the police, army, intelligence services and other security services, should be subject to the institution’s scrutiny. Authority to initiate and publish inquiries – Public inquiries into specific human rights issues fall within the general monitoring function of national institutions. Such inquiries entail not only monitoring, but also public hearings of witnesses and the release of public reports containing recommendations for action to the relevant authorities. NHRIs that conduct such inquiries find them invaluable to secure official action and raise public awareness of particular human rights issues. C. Monitoring and advising on compliance with international ­standards and co-operating with regional and international bodies NHRIs should not submit reports to international bodies on behalf of ­government – The advice national institutions give to government on their human rights ­obligations overlaps with their monitoring function. They should not prepare government reports to international human rights mechanisms, such as ­treaty­­monitoring bodies. They are not government departments and should only ­advise and review draft official reports. Production of parallel reports on compliance with treaty obligations – NHRIs co-operate with international mechanisms, including treaty bodies and special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, to monitor the extent to which governments comply with their human rights obligations. They may produce parallel reports based on their own information and attend hearings.  Part IV of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, ­Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (General Assembly resolution 57/199 (2002) www.ohchr.org/english/law/cat-one.htm). Assessing the Effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions 19