Powers of the Commission
In order in order to fulfill its responsibilities, the Commission has the following powers:
(a) Investigate complaints by aggrieved parties, and complaints submitted on their behalf by persons or organisations, alleging the violation, or aiding or abetting the violation, of human rights, and investigate where the Commission considers that such violation, or aiding or abetting a violation, has taken, or is taking, place, and investigate complaints by aggrieved parties, and complaints submitted on their behalf by persons or organisations, alleging negligence in failing to take action to halt or prevent such violation, or aiding or abetting such violation, and take appropriate action under this Act;
(b) Investigate cases of any person or party whom the Commission considers may be violating, or aiding or abetting the violation, of human rights, and investigate cases where the Commission considers there may be negligence in taking action to halt or prevent such violation, or aiding or abetting such violation, and take appropriate action under this Act;
(c) To undertake inspections, without notice and at a time and in a manner determined by the Commission, whether comprising a member or members of the Commission, or a member or members of the Commission accompanied by such other persons as may be determined by the Commission, wherever persons are held in custody, where authorised by court decision or a lawful directive;
(d) Inquire into and inspect, on visits undertaken in accordance with (c) above, whether human rights of the detainees have been violated; review their welfare, and, should the Commission consider that improvements need to be made to the facilities at the detention premises, or that the conditions of the detainees need to be reviewed, make appropriate recommendations to the relevant Government authorities;
(e) Investigate complaints submitted by an individual, or a state or private agency, or a Commission member, and take appropriate action;
(f) Investigate human rights related complaints against Government or private agencies, inform such agencies and relevant Government authorities as required of such complaints, and identify appropriate action to be taken in relation to the complaint and issue appropriate directives to such agencies;
(g) Investigate complaints lodged by the presiding Judge, the Chief Justice, the Attorney General or the aggrieved party alleging that a human right has been, or would inevitably be violated in an ongoing trial, and submit a report of the investigation to the presiding Judge and the Chief Justice;
(h) Conduct seminars, workshops and other programmes and increase awareness of human rights, and conduct, publicise and publish studies and surveys;
(i) Publicise human rights issues and matters of general concern, and publish related statements as necessary; and
(j) Undertake such other activities as may be required to fulfil the responsibilities of the Commission.