Parliament, Friday, 11 September 2015 - The Presiding Officers are today holding a workshop on the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the Chapter 9 and Associated Institutions. The program includes presentations by some Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy (ISDs) and the associated departments.
The workshop will have invited guests, including Professor Kathy Govender and Justice Navi Pillay who will bring in the perspective of comparative human rights related models and proposed standardised appointment procedures for ISDs.
In 2006, the National Assembly (NA) agreed to the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of State ISDs and the Public Service Commission.
The Ad Hoc Committee in accordance with its terms of reference conducted a review of the Chapter 9 Institutions, among them the Public Protector; the Human Rights Commission; the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities; the Commission for Gender Equality; the Auditor-General and the Electoral Commission; as well as the Public Service Commission.
The Ad Hoc Committee submitted its report to the NA in 2007. The NA considered the Report at the end of 2008 and resolved to adopt only one of the recommendations at the time, namely to establish a Unit on Constitutional Institutions and Statutory Bodies within Parliament. An office on ISDs was subsequently established within the Office of the Speaker. The rest of the report was placed in abeyance for consideration at a later stage.
In the meeting that took place on 27 February 2015 between the Heads of the ISDs and the Presiding Officers, it was agreed that the 5th Parliament would finalise the processing of the Ad Hoc Committee's Report.
The workshop will be concluded with a summary of proposed recommendations .
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES
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