A/HRC/4/9/Add.3 page 22 representing 69 nations, nationalities or peoples.18 The House does not have the authority to initiate laws or check the powers of the House of Peoples’ Representatives or the Executive. However, it is intended to act as an assurance mechanism for the rights of different ethnic groups. 80. The functions and powers of the House are established in article 62 of the Constitution. It has the authority to interpret the Constitution via the Council of Constitutional Inquiry, which is composed of expert members of the House. It is empowered to “decide on issues relating to the rights of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples to self-determination”, including ultimately the constitutionally established right to secession. It is called upon to “promote the equality of the Peoples of Ethiopia … and promote and consolidate their unity based on their mutual consent”. While regional states have initial responsibility for resolving border disputes between themselves, where they fail, the House can be called upon to intervene and find a solution. 81. In practice, the House has deliberated on few cases. These include a decision relating to the promulgation of family law; a decision regarding a claim for recognition of identity by the Selti community19 resident in SNNP; a decision on the rights of members of particular communities to elect and be elected in Benshangul/Gumuz State; and an appeal by an individual woman against being judged by sharia court. These few cases highlight the potentially valuable role of the House, which seems not to have been fully exploited to date. The independent expert commends the Five Year Strategic Plan drawn up by the House, and a detailed programme of work for the period 2006 to 2010 aimed at strengthening the performance of the House.20 The House of Peoples’ Representatives 82. The House of Peoples’ Representatives is the highest authority of the federal Government. It has full legislative authority in all matters assigned by the Constitution to federal jurisdiction. Members of the House are elected for a term of five years. Currently there are 548 members from different parties and independent members. Out of the 548 seats the TPLF/EPRDF has 496, the rest being held by minority parties and independent members. The 18 Gambella, for example, has 4 members of the House representing 4 different ethnic groups, while SNNP has 54 members representing 48 nations, nationalities and peoples. Communities not represented in the House can apply for representation, a recent example being the successful application of the Argoba community. A total of 21 of these seats are held by women. 19 The Selti were successful in their claim for recognition and their own administrative zone in SNNP having claimed separate identity from the larger Gurage group of which they had been considered a part. 20 Of particular relevance to her mandate, the independent expert welcomes the objectives of the House to better promote equality, non-discrimination, and unity between all nations, nationalities and peoples; to be more proactive in the field of conflict prevention and dispute resolution (including conducting conflict assessments in two regions annually); to initiate research and events to promote cultures and cultural diversity; to raise awareness of the Constitution; and to develop its capacity to reach decisions on issues under its jurisdiction.