There is a shortage of legal personnel at the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, according to its commissioner Chantelle Khan.
Ms Khan said the commission had only two practising lawyers, which affected its ability to progress cases through the courts.
“We also have about three staff members with law degrees, but they still need to be admitted to the Bar before they can practise.”
She said the commission also lacked a proceedings commissioner, whose role included bringing human rights cases before the courts.
“As a result, there is now a backlog of cases waiting to proceed.”
Ms Khan said the commission had previously relied on its former chairperson, who also served as proceedings commissioner, to handle court matters.
However, she said the position remained vacant, meaning the commission now had to engage external lawyers when legal representation was required.
She said strengthening the commission’s legal capacity remained important to ensuring complaints of alleged human rights violations were investigated and resolved as efficiently as possible.
