A/HRC/22/47 Contents Page I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1–4 3 II. Activities during the reporting period ..................................................................... 5–22 3 III. IV. V. 2 Paragraphs A. Communications transmitted to States............................................................ 5 3 B. Country visits .................................................................................................. 6–8 3 C. Cooperation with the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations ................................................................................................... 9–14 4 D. Invitations by Governments ............................................................................ 15 5 E. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations ........................................ 16–22 5 National human rights institutions .......................................................................... 23–83 6 A. Introduction and methodology ........................................................................ 23–27 6 B. The Paris Principles and beyond ..................................................................... 28–33 7 C. National human rights institutions as human rights defenders ....................... 34–83 8 The role of national human rights institutions in the protection of human rights defenders ................................................................................................................ 84–114 15 A. Formal complaints mechanisms and protection programmes ......................... 85–90 15 B. Advocacy in favour of a conducive work environment for defenders ............ 91–94 16 C. Interaction with international and regional mechanisms ................................ 95–97 17 D. Public support in cases of violations against human rights defenders ............ 98–102 17 E. Visits to prisons and detention centres and provision of legal assistance ....... 103–105 18 F. Conflict mediation .......................................................................................... 106–108 18 G. Capacity strengthening for human rights defenders........................................ 109–114 19 Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................................... 115–123 19 A. Conclusions .................................................................................................... 115–118 19 B. Recommendations........................................................................................... 119–123 20