32 Example In 2011, the Dutch Equal Treatment Commission made an inquiry into the pay of men and women in 18 general hospitals in the Netherlands. Comparisons of salaries in 1,346 cases where men and women held the same job grade were conducted. In 43 per cent of cases, an unjustified pay gap was identified, in two-thirds of cases to the disadvantage of women. SURVEY RESULTS NHRIs reported that they use the following strategies to handle complaints: Ensuring a gender-balanced interviewing team and gender-balanced sample of persons to be interviewed (for example, in the context of visits to detention facilities); Working with community organizations and international organizations to facilitate victims’ access to the complaints mechanism; Undertaking studies on community-based resources for victims of violence and/or trafficking, and publishing the results so that victims know which services are available and how to find them. HANDBOOK FOR NHRIs ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY between the NHRI and individual citizens, effective resolution will provide legitimacy and credibility to the NHRI. The mandate to receive complaints should be broad and should, in cases involving gender-based (or other) discrimination, also extend to private companies. For example, this could include cases of gender-based discrimination in employment. NHRIs should have the authority to take up issues on their own initiative. In terms of gender equality and women’s rights, this prerogative is particularly important in countries where women appear to be reluctant to file complaints – for cultural, educational, accessrelated or other reasons. It is essential that NHRI staff have the professional skills to handle individual complaints. This includes not only technical skills, such as case management, interviewing and forensic skills, but also specialized skills and training to work with and interview victims of sexual harassment, discrimination, human trafficking or forms of violence against women. In this regard, NHRIs should have the ability to facilitate secure witness-protection programmes, in co-operation with the competent judicial authorities, as well as to recommend suspension from duty of officials under investigation, without prejudice to the investigation. However, NHRIs do not substitute for or replace police interventions and investigations. Finally, NHRIs should require authorities to respond to recommendations or findings within a  given time frame, and to recommend reparation for victims. Whenever faced with complaints beyond their jurisdiction, NHRIs should refer these complaints to other independent human rights institutions or competent governmental and judicial bodies.