Human rights institutions The study should survey national institutions for the protection of human rights and comment on their effectiveness. It should cover not only the national human rights commission, where there is one, but also other relevant institutions such as those established to protect the rights of women, children or indigenous people or to promote human rights education or those that are relevant to other human rights issues. The study should also address the basic conditions for NGOs to function effectively. Figure 9 – The baseline study Supervision by the national coordinating committee Consultation with civil society Drafted by: ⇒ Secretariat, or ⇒ National human rights institution, or ⇒ Parliamentary committee, or ⇒ Human rights expert, or ⇒ Other consultant individual or organization, or ⇒ Consultation with NGOs Covering: ⇒ Legal framework ⇒ Human rights institutions ⇒ Social indicators ⇒ Vulnerable groups ⇒ Human rights issues ⇒ Other relevant issues Time frame Two months for drafting Two months for comment Social indicators These will provide an important indication of the state of human rights observance, particularly in relation to economic, social and cultural rights. It is important to provide disaggregated data, including for race, gender and other criteria, so that the incidence of discrimination is apparent. Where such indicators and information are not available, the national action plan may ultimately include plans to collect the necessary data regularly. 63