Reply: The National Human Rights Commission is established in accordance with section 3 of the Protection of Human Rights Act. The National Human Rights Commission consists of two divisions, namely – (i) the Human Rights Division, and (ii) the National Preventive Mechanism Division. The Commission shall consist of – (a) a Chairperson, who shall be the Head of every Division, and (b) two Deputy Chairpersons, each of whom shall be assigned to a Division. Pursuant to section 3(7) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, each Division shall consist of – (i) the Chairperson, as its head; (ii) a Deputy Chairperson who shall be assigned to it, and (iii) two members with knowledge and experience in the relevant field. Moreover, pursuant to section 3(8) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and the Members of every Division are appointed by the President, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. The Protection of Human Rights Act further provides that the Chairperson should be a person who has been – (i) a Judge; (ii) a Magistrate for not less than 10 years; (iii) a law practitioner for not less than 10 years; or

149 (iv) a Magistrate and a law practitioner for an aggregate period of not less than 10 years. The Deputy Chairpersons shall be persons who have been law practitioners for not less than five years. Members of the Human Rights Division shall be persons having knowledge and experience in the field of human rights, law, employment, industrial relations, business administration, education, sociology, policing, social work, psychology, psychiatry, medicine or prison management. As regards the National Preventive Mechanism Division, of the two Members, one member shall be selected from a list of non-governmental organisations involved in social work in prisons. The other member shall be a person having knowledge and experience in the field of human rights, law, employment, industrial relations, business administration, education, sociology, policing, social work, psychology, psychiatry, medicine or prison management. The appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission has been made on the basis of their qualifications and relevant experience in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of the Human Rights Act and National Preventive Mechanism Act. The current composition of the National Human Rights Commission is as follows – Chairperson : Mr Satyajit Boolell, SC The Human Rights Division Deputy Chairperson : Mrs Melany Nagen Members : (i) Mrs Touria Prayag; and (ii) Mr Jean Marie Frank Richard The National Preventive Mechanism Division Deputy Chairperson : Mrs Najah Abdulla Ahmed Members : (i) Mr Vijay Ramanjooloo; and (ii) Mr Joseph Gabriel Vieillesse

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