A/HRC/41/40 humanitarian operations, 18 for example, where issues such as detention or violence by security forces are raised with authorities may affect relations and hinder humanitarian access and delivery. As dedicated human rights partners, NHRIs are well placed to contribute and, indeed, required to raise sensitive issues in such circumstances. 56. Humanitarian partners may need to draw back from ongoing displacement situations or downscale once the crisis phase has ended and before durable solutions have been achieved for IDPs, who may remain highly vulnerable. National human rights institutions must remain fully engaged to ensure that no protection gaps exist. Consequently, forward planning for humanitarian withdrawal strategies should be undertaken in consultation with NHRIs. Indeed, as humanitarian partners disengage, joint projects and collaboration between development partners and NHRIs should be actively encouraged to maintain their presence and activities as well as to ensure new and ongoing funding possibilities. As a key development partner, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked to strengthen engagement with and support to NHRIs and developed the UNDP-OHCHR Toolkit for Collaboration with National Human Rights Institutions. A tripartite partnership was formalized in 2017 and seeks a collaborative and coherent framework to strengthen support to NHRIs.19 57. National human rights institutions play an important liaison role, linking national and international institutions and providing a platform for exchange. NGOs frequently support IDPs and provide a range of services and advocate for their rights. However, they may lack in-depth human rights knowledge, and NHRIs can be an essential human rights resource for them. The national institution of Ukraine noted its engagement with NGOs and organizations of IDPs active in displacement-affected communities through advice, support for their activities, lobbying and campaigns, providing human rights information and resources about the rights of IDPs and information on what national or international mechanisms to utilize. Establishing strong connections and joint activities with NGOs also expands the ability of underresourced institutions to reach out to IDPs. 4. Developing and promoting national law and policy 58. National human rights institutions have a potentially powerful role in advocating for and advancing the rule of law. Those established in conformity with the Paris Principles are empowered to examine any legislation and administrative provisions in force, as well as bills and proposals, and to make recommendations to ensure that they conform to the fundamental principles of human rights. They can recommend the adoption of new legislation, the amendment of legislation and the adoption or amendment of administrative measures at local and national levels. As emphasized by OHCHR, NHRIs contribute to effective parliaments (which ideally have a human rights body), strong and dynamic civil society organizations, alert and responsive media and societies that encourage the objective of a universal culture of human rights. 20 59. Many NHRIs conduct advocacy to encourage the development of national laws and policies on internal displacement based on the Guiding Principles. They have frequently been involved in the drafting of such frameworks (sometimes even leading processes), as occurred in Georgia, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Uganda. Their work is vital to ensuring that appropriate legal and policy measures exist, and this function has been among the highest priority of advocacy by NHRIs in countries experiencing internal displacement. Their unique position among national bodies and their authority on issues related to human rights have allowed NHRIs to initiate and take leadership roles in drafting national law and policy in collaboration with other national bodies, civil society and, importantly, IDPs themselves. 18 19 20 See Inter-Agency Standing Committee Policy on Protection in Humanitarian Action, 2016. Available at https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/protection-priority-global-protectioncluster/documents/iasc-policy-protection-humanitarian-action. See https://nhri.ohchr.org/EN/IHRS/tripartite/Documents/TPP%20Flyer%20Feb2018_FINAL.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/NHRI/Pages/NHRIMain.aspx. 13