Licensing local representatives – When resources are not available, or when it is not practical to establish offices within easy reach of the whole ­population, NHRIs should be prepared to improvise. Solutions might include licensing ­local competent NGOs or community organisations to act as representatives; or ­providing staff members with cheap forms of transport, such as ­motorcycles, so that they can visit outlying areas easily and often, for example on pre­determined days. Office location – All offices, including the headquarters, should be accessible. Are offices located in areas of town that are socially awkward or intimidating for the general public to visit? Can minorities, such as ethnic groups, reach them? Does their proximity to government, military or police buildings deter the ­public from coming forward with complaints? Are they on public transport routes, ­enabling people from poorer areas to reach them easily? Disabled access and availability of interpretation – NHRIs should give ­attention to the needs of people with disabilities and to their problems of access. Where resources permit, parts of the institution open to the public should be ­accessible to people with disabilities, and interpreters (including sign language ­interpreters) should be available. Wherever possible, communication systems should enable people with visual or aural disabilities to use them. Diverse staff – Cultural and ethnic diversity among staff indicates to the ­public that they are welcome and this makes NHRIs more accessible. Being able to communicate in the languages of the country is a precondition of genuine ­public access. If staff and members have a diverse range of professional backgrounds, this will help to ensure that problems brought to their attention are not narrowly framed in legal terms. Diverse board or membership – A diverse governing board, membership and staff signals to the public that the NHRI belongs to them. For example, minority ethnic groups are more likely to have heard of a national institution if one of its senior members belongs to their community. Promotional activities aimed at disadvantaged groups – Targeted ­ public ­information campaigns should draw the attention of disadvantaged or ­excluded groups to the institution, the services it offers, and ways to access them. ­Targeting should take account of minority languages and focus on media that potential beneficiaries use. Publicising its values – A statement of the NHRI’s values, displayed prominently in public and private areas of the institution, reminds both staff and the public of the approach and standards of operation that should underlie the institution’s work. This too will help the institution to foster an open, accessible approach. 2. Mandate National human rights institutions are mandated to protect and promote human rights. They examine a wide variety of issues. Some institutions focus only on non-discrimination, but address all rights; others confine their work to civil and political rights. The most effective tend to have a broad mandate Assessing the Effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions 17