Antigua and Barbuda is considering expanding the Ombudsman’s Office into a national human rights institution after acknowledging that the existing office does not provide broad protection for human rights.

The proposal was outlined during the country’s fourth Universal Periodic Review before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The Government said it had explored creating a hybrid institution that would combine the Ombudsman’s current constitutional functions with responsibility for monitoring and addressing wider human rights concerns.

At present, the Ombudsman investigates complaints involving government ministries and agencies, including allegations of bias, unfair discrimination, procedural failures and other administrative injustices.

“It is understood that the Office of the Ombudsman, in its present state, does not function in a manner that protects human rights broadly,” the delegation said.

The Government said the office would need a wider mandate to monitor violations of international human rights agreements and qualify as a national human rights institution.

Any new body would be expected to comply with the Paris Principles, the international standards governing the independence, powers and operation of national human rights institutions.

Several countries, including Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Dominican Republic, recommended that Antigua and Barbuda establish an independent institution that complies with those standards.

The Government said it welcomes technical assistance to map the transition to the proposed hybrid model.

No timetable, budget or legislative programme for creating the expanded institution was disclosed during the review.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Plans to Expand Ombudsman’s Office Into Human Rights Institution.