- Facilitate and promote equal opportunity, good relations, harmony and peaceful co-existence of persons of different ethnic and racial communities and advice the Government on all matters thereof.
- Eliminate all forms of ethnic or racial discrimination and discourage persons, institutions, political parties and associations from advocating or promoting discrimination.
- Enhance tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life.
- Promote respect for religious cultural and linguistic diversity in a plural society.
- Plan, supervise, co-ordinate and promote educational and training programs to create public awareness, support and advancement of peace and harmony among ethnic communities and racial groups;
- Promote arbitration, conciliation, mediation and similar forms of conflict resolution mechanisms.
- Investigate complaints of discrimination and make recommendations to the Attorney General, Human Rights Commission or other authority on remedial measures to be taken where such complaints are valid.
- Investigate on its own accord or on request from any institution, office, or person any issue affecting ethnic and racial relations.
- Initiate, lobby for and advocate for policy, legal or administrative reforms on issues affecting ethnic relations.
- Undertake research and studies and make recommendations to the Government on any issue relating to ethnic affairs including whether ethnic relations are improving.
- Monitor and report to the National Assembly the status and success of implementation of its recommendations
- Determine strategies and priorities in all socio-economic, political and development policies of the government impacting on ethnic relations and advise on their implementation.
