Reply: In accordance with section 11 of the Protection for Human Rights Act, the Annual Report 2025 of the National Human Rights Commission was submitted to the President and tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday 31 March 2026. The Report is also available online. The Report comprises, inter alia, an overview of the Commission’s mandate, its institutional priorities, key achievements and challenges and reform priority areas. One of the main reform priority areas of the Commission is the modernisation of the legislative framework governing its mandate and powers. In its Annual Report, the Commission has also proposed a comprehensive review of the Protection of Human Rights Act to strengthen institutional independence, clarify appointment and removal safeguards and enhance operational coherence, in pursuit of full alignment with the Paris Principles. The Paris Principles set out the minimum standards that National Human Rights Institutions must meet in order to be considered credible and to operate effectively. The key pillars of the Paris Principles are pluralism, independence and effectiveness and some of the requirements of the Paris Principles include, amongst others – (i) independence from Government, set out in legislation or the Constitution; (ii) in order to ensure a stable mandate for the Members of the National Institution, their appointment shall be effected by an Act which shall establish the specific duration of the mandate. This mandate may be renewable, provided that the pluralism of the institution's membership is ensured; (iii) adequate powers, so that National Human Rights Institutions can initiate enquiries and investigations, secure evidence and documents, consult Non- Governmental Organisations and State institutions and publicise their reports, findings and recommendations, and (iv) adequate resources, so that National Human Rights Institutions have the funding, staffing, infrastructure and institutional capacity to perform their functions and discharge their responsibilities without being subject to financial control which might affect their independence. In the Annual Report, the National Human Rights Commission has acknowledged the independence of the Commission by virtue of section 3(2) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, which stipulates that “the Commission shall not, in the exercise of its functions, be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.” Furthermore, through the Annual Report 2025, the National Human Rights Commission has set out its commitment to adhere to the Paris Principles. Presently, the National Human Rights Commission holds an accreditation status ‘A’ from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which implies that the Commission is fully compliant with the Paris Principles. Following third party representations by a Non-Governmental Organisation from Mauritius, regarding certain aspects which may impact on the independence of the Commission, a special review session by the GANHRI Sub-Committee on Accreditation is scheduled at the end of April 2026 in Geneva. I am informed that there have been discussions between the Attorney General’s Office and the National Human Rights Commission with respect to the legislative amendments to be brought to the Protection of Human Rights Act and a draft Bill has already been prepared to be introduced in Parliament. CAUDAN ROUNDABOUT ACCIDENT – 40-TONNE CONCRETE MIXER TRUCK – INQUIRY