6. ACTIVITIES ON PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2016 6.1 Preamble Protection of human rights is one of the core roles of NHRIs. During this period ZHRC conducted numerous activities in fulfilling this role. These include; receiving and investigating complaints, monitoring the human rights situation in the country and monitoring the effective implementation of national, regional and international human rights standards in prisons, places of detention and mental institutions and advising relevant Ministries in the improvement of conditions in these institutions. 6.2. Complaints received in the reporting period In the year under review, the ZHRC handled a total of 666 cases, representing an increase of 38.1% compared to cases dealt with in 2015. 34 of the 666 cases were carried over from 2014 and 2015. 117 were cases which had been issued at the Public Protector’s Office and 515 were cases received from the public in 2016. The 515 complaints received in 2016 represent an 85.2% increase from the 278 cases received in 2015. The increase is attributed to, among others, publicity of the Commission’s work in the media, the road shows and other outreaches conducted by the ZHRC in 2016 around the country, and the referred cases from stakeholders who have entered into MOUs with ZHRC. 6.2.1. Analysis of complaints received The 245 cases of the 515 received in 2016 were human rights complaints which was a 51.2% increase from the 162 human rights complaints cases received in 2015. 136 cases which amount to 26.4% of the total of 515 cases were general matters while 134 cases which made up 26% of the 515 cases related to maladministration issues. A comparative analysis of the complaints received in 2015 and 2016 is summarised in the following graph. Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 15