a. Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) Mrs. Noris MANGULAMA represented NANHRI in this presentation. She introduced that NANHRI is a membership organization for national human rights institutions (NHRIs). She further introduced that NHRIs are bodies established by government to do advocacy, advise governments, receive complaints on human rights violations as well as monitor human rights implementation processes. They are established according to the Paris Principles emphasizing independence and autonomy even if funded by governments. Ms MANGULAMA underlined that according to the UN General Assembly Resolution on National Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, NHRIs have the mandate to submit opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports on any matters concerning the promotion and protection of human rights; to promote and ensure the harmonization of national legislation regulations and practices with the international human rights instruments; to encourage ratification or accession of the human rights instruments and ensure their implementation; and to contribute to the State party reports. Accordingly, in relation to the African Children’s Charter and its monitoring body, she highlighted that NHRIs can play role to promote ratification and harmonisation of national legislation and children’s charter; monitor compliance with the provisions of the ACRWC; and contribute to the submission of state party, complimentary or shadow reports. In addition, it was underscored that NHRIs can collaborate with the ACERWC through assisting in the formulation of programmes and research on child rights (data and information generation and dissemination); commenting publicly on any specific situation of child rights violation; and investigating child related complaints and rights violations. However, Ms MANGULAMA pointed out that there is no legal framework in which NHRIs can engage with the ACERWC and indicated that NANHRI requests the ACERWC to take advantage of the mandate of NHRIs and establish a mechanism in which NHRIs can submit a separate report on the African Children’s Charter. b. Regional Economic Communities (RECs) The only REC present during the Forum was the East African Community (EAC). The presentation was made by Mr Morris Tayebwa from the EAC Secretariat. The presentation informed that the EAC Secretariat does a lot of engagement with Partner States. Mr Tayebwa indicated that EAC is structured in Partner States through ministries. The direct role of EAC is collaboration at national level in terms of implementation, reporting and policy guidance. In reporting, EAC seeks at harmonized reporting, which has not been done so far. Mr Tayebwa explained that by harmonized reporting EAC 16 | P a g e