A/HRC/14/40 account the complementary and mutually reinforcing nature of international human rights and international humanitarian law. In particular, reports prepared by non-governmental organizations have taken into account that each body of law contains specific legal provisions that provide better protection depending on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, taking into account that civil society organizations may be more reactive to specific situations in the field, it was indicated that information gathered in their investigations is often taken into account by other human rights mechanisms and bodies dealing with the same situation. 58. Experts also recalled that international humanitarian law is one of the bases for consideration of the human rights record of member States in the universal periodic review (UPR). Protection of civilians in armed conflict has been one of the subjects of specific recommendations. In particular, recommendations have been issued concerning, inter alia, the obligation to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law obligations; to take measures to ensure access to humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations and take measures to protect civilians; to protect religious freedom in accordance with article 27 of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and to take every possible measure to ensure the protection of the civilian population, in particular vulnerable groups, such as children, women and internationally displaced persons. 59. It was further indicated that recommendations formulated in the context of the UPR are often based on the concluding observations of human rights treaty bodies and recommendations issued by special procedures. The importance of the linkages between mechanisms is that their recommendations are inter-linked and could, therefore, be reinforced in the different mechanisms. For instance, experts recalled that under the UPR mechanism States are invited to explicitly indicate those recommendations that it is willing to accept. States’ commitments in the UPR context may be followed-up by treaty bodies or special procedures in their analysis of States’ reports or mission reports. Similarly, recommendations issued by human rights treaty bodies and special procedures are systematically included in the UPR compilation reports. VI. Final remarks 60. In sum, experts explored in detail how the different human rights mechanisms, as well as judicial organs and civil society organizations have applied international human rights and international humanitarian law in a complementary way to concrete armed conflict situations. Experts agreed that there has been an evolution over the years and that the practice of the different mechanisms has clearly led to a better understanding of how such complementarity can be implemented in a way that ensures better protection for the rights of civilians. It was furthermore indicated that the practice judicial organs, human rights mechanisms, international commissions of inquiry and civil society organizations, has also reaffirmed that the application of international human rights is not limited to the territory of the State, but that it can be applied extraterritorially in relation to persons who are under the jurisdiction or the effective control of the State. Experts also agreed that the complementary and mutually reinforcing nature of international human rights and international humanitarian law have ensured, in practice, that the protection gap has been much reduced. Experts stated that the main challenge is how to ensure the recommendations formulated by the different mechanisms are taken into account and lead to action by the relevant United Nations political organs. 61. Finally, in relation to the gathering of evidence and other information concerning violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, experts agreed that the existing mechanisms play an essential role given their ability to verify facts, interview witnesses and victims and communicate with Government officials. It was 14