OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on the Draft Amendments to the Act on Establishment of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights against Roma and Sinti 14 and women 15 and to generally combat intolerance and discrimination. 16 Additionally, the OSCE Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, which exemplifies measures and initiatives to strengthen NHRIs’ capacity to work on women’s rights and gender equality, is a useful resource. 17 At the Council of Europe (hereinafter “CoE”) level, Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1615 (2003) sets out characteristics which are essential for any Ombudsman institution to operate effectively. 18 The European Commission for Democracy through Law (hereinafter “Venice Commission”) also published a Compilation of Venice Commission Opinions concerning the Ombudsman Institution.19 The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance’s (hereinafter “ECRI”) General Policy Recommendation No. 2: Equality Bodies to Combat Racism and Intolerance at the National Level (revised version adopted 7 December 2017) is also of relevance.20 16. Within the European Union (“EU), the 2018 Recommendation on Standards for Equality Bodies by the European Commission is worth noting. 21 Additional guidance can be found, e.g, in the 2012 Handbook on the establishment and accreditation of National Human Rights Institutions in the European Union published by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (hereinafter “FRA”).22 2. 17. General Comments and Purpose of the Draft Amendments At the outset, NHRI enabling laws should have ‘sufficient detail to ensure the NHRI has a clear mandate and independence’, and ‘should specify the NHRIs role, functions, powers, funding and lines of accountability, as well as the appointment mechanism for, and terms of office of, its members’.23 14 See Annex to OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/03: Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, 1 and 2 December 20013, par 22, available at http://www.osce.org/odihr/17554. 15 See OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 14/04 “2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality”, 7 December 2004, par 42, available at http://www.osce.org/mc/23295. 16 See OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 10/07 on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination: Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding, 30 November 2007, par 10, available at http://www.osce.org/mc/29452. 17 OSCE/ODIHR, Handbook for National Human Rights Institutions on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, 4 December 2012, pages 9 and 78, available at http://www.osce.org/odihr/97756. 18 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Recommendation 1615 (2003) on the Institution of Ombudsman, 8 September 2003, available at http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTMLEN.asp?fileid=17133&lang=en; other CoE recommendations of relevance are CoE Committee of Minister, Recommendation Rec(97)14E on the Establishment of Independent National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 30 September 1997, available at https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=589191; PACE, Recommendation 1959 (2013) on the Strengthening the Institution of Ombudsman in Europe, adopted on 4 October 2013, available at http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/X2H-XrefViewPDF.asp?FileID=20232&lang=en. 19 Available at http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-PI(2016)001-e. 20 ECRI General Policy Recommendation No. 2: Equality Bodies to Combat Racism and Intolerance at National Level (7 December 2017), available at https://rm.coe.int/ecri-general-policy-/16808b5a23. 21 Available at https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/2_en_act_part1_v4.pdf. 22 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Handbook on the establishment and accreditation of National Human Rights Institutions in the European Union (2012) available at https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2012/handbook-establishment-and-accreditation-national-human-rightsinstitutions 23 Op. cit. footnote 9, SCA General Observation 1.1. 7