The Higher Judicial Council 472. The Higher Judicial Council is a disciplinary body for judges. It gives advisory opinions on recruitment, posting or appointment of judges and on pardon applications and draft amnesty issues. It can be consulted on all matters relating to the independence of the judiciary. 473. The Higher Judicial Council is made up of nine (9) members: - three (3) judges of the Supreme Court; - four (4) judges of the courts of appeal and tribunals; - an MP elected by the National Assembly; - a personnality that belongs neither to the National Assembly nor the bench appointed by the President of the Republic on grounds of his competence. 474. The recruitment of any judges is done based on a proposal by the Minister of Justice, after the advisory opinion of the Higher Judicial Council. The appointment of sitting judges is done by Decree in the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Higher Judicial Council. The appointment of court judges is done by decree in the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Minister of Justice, after the Higher Judicial Council. 475. The Higher Judicial Council rules as the disciplinary body for sitting and court judges. Directive No. 001/2013/CSM of 22 November 2013 on the Ethics and Professional Code of Conduct of the Judiciary was adopted by the Higher Judical Council in 2013 to remind each judge of the need to deliver justice in accordance with the law and ethical standards. b) The National Human Rights Commission for (NHRC) 476. In order to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights, Togo established a National Commission on Human Rights (NHRC) in 1987. This Commission became a Constitutional body in 1992. According to Article 152 of the Constitution of 14 October 1992, the NHRC is an independent institution subject only to the Constitution and the law. 478. The composition, organization and functioning of this institution are set out by Organic Law No. 2005-004 of 9 February 2005, amending and supplementing Organic Law No. 96-12 of 11 December 1996. This institution has been accredited to status A since 1999 by the International Committee charged with the Coordination 134