A detailed section in the UN Handbook on National Human Rights Institutions discusses key components of independence. Defining the aims of an office in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child provides it with the authority of international law, and accentuates independence. Independent legal status should be of a level sufficient to permit an institution to perform its functions without interference or obstruction from any branch of government or any public or private entity. While such offices need to be consulted by government, and are likely to be asked to do particular projects for government, government should not be able to dictate the office's agenda, or overcrowd it to prevent it developing its own priorities and being able to respond quickly to new situations. Similarly, reports and recommendations from an office should not normally be subject to review or change by any other body.
Any institution can only ever be as independent as the individuals of which it is composed.
For financial issues, the office should be accountable not to government but to parliament.