A/HRC/31/78 sectoral issues that merit further examination. These reports need to be properly publicized and brought to the attention of civil society and the public authorities, particularly legislators and the staff of offices responsible for security matters and the administration of justice. 75. Cooperation between the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire and the UNOCI Human Rights Division continues to bear fruit. A strategic five -year plan for the fulfilment of the Commission’s mandate was adopted in October along with a plan of action for the implementation of the recommendations made during the universal periodic review and by the treaty bodies. The Commission continues to partner with civil society in connection with the national human rights observatory and in other areas. Through its Subcommission on Detention, it also continues to devote special attention to the situation of incarcerated persons and to the improvement of their treatment. 76. The Commission has succeeded in increasing the number of regional offices. It is nonetheless true, however, that only 15 of the planned 31 offices have as yet been set up, and these regional commissions are faced with severe shortages of resources. More generally, the Commission is in need of more resources in order for it to be able to organize more human rights training activities in the various public sectors where such training is required. 3. Enhancement of the status of the Commission 77. In his inaugural address of 4 November 2015, the President of Côte d ’Ivoire announced that he intended to initiate the process of amending the Constitution. The Independent Expert applauds this initiative insofar as it will help to consolidate the rule of law. A constitutional reform process also offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the status of the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d ’Ivoire. The Commission would stand to gain from being recognized as a constitutional institution entrusted with monitoring the observance of human rights in the country and working with the authorities and civil society to promote human rights. Its institutional and financial independence should also be consolidated so that it may be brought more fully into line with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). 78. The Independent Expert wishes to emphasize that the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire is an extremely important institution for the promotion of human rights in the country. It has a crucial role to play in the proactive prevention of human rights violations and in dealing with those that are committed with all due diligence. It also performs an essential function by providing the authorities with sound advisory assistance in connection with the strategy to be used for promoting human rights. The Commission is, in addition, intended to serve as an important channel for effective communication and cooperation with Ivorian civil society, United Nations bodies and other national and regional organizations workin g in the field of human rights. 79. The Independent Expert urges the officials of the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire to take a bolder stand against the human rights violations committed in their country. He also calls upon the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to raise its officials’ awareness of the importance of the role that this institution could play in promoting human rights and to provide it with the material and human resources that it needs in order to fulfil its essential fun ctions. GE.16-00901 19/23