A/HRC/21/51 Human Rights Institutions. Representatives of national human rights institutions pointed out that their organizations play a bridging role between State actors and non-governmental organizations, and between the international community and the situation on the ground. The special procedures and national human rights institutions were considered to be natural, complementary partners, because the constant presence of the latter allowed for support before, during and after the visits of special procedures, and with regard to communications and follow-up. Practical steps could be taken to strengthen cooperation between mandate holders and national human rights institutions. Within the International Coordinating Committee, the process of accreditation of national human rights institutions had been strengthened, with the accreditation status of institutions now being subject to review every four years. The views of non-governmental organizations were taken into account in the accreditation process, and special procedures could also play a valuable role in strengthening the independence of such institutions. 55. It was suggested that the Manual of Special Procedures should be improved by adding guidance on working with national human rights institutions; that future induction sessions for new mandate holders include additional information on interaction with such institutions; and a document on best practices in cooperation between national human rights institutions and special procedures be compiled. 56. The mandate holders stated that, during their country visits, they systematically meet with national human rights institutions, but their experience was mixed, particularly since the institutions enjoyed varying degrees of independence, regardless of their accreditation level. The representatives of national human rights institutions noted that universal periodic degree recommendations routinely called on States to establish category A institutions. The representative of the International Coordinating Committee noted that the human rights of women and trafficking had an increasingly high profile in the work of the committee, which now had access to the Commission on the Status of Women, and that the level at which gender was integrated into the work of a national human rights institution was also taken into account in the accreditation process. 57. The mandate holders requested information on how their priority issues could be included in the agenda of the annual meeting of the International Coordinating Committee. The role of national human rights institutions with regard to communications was also raised, and it was suggested that a methodology, including templates, could be developed, especially in follow-up. The mandate holders and representatives of national human rights institutions agreed to follow up on the issues raised during their interaction in greater depth. E. Conclusion 58. The mandate holders expressed their appreciation to the Special Procedures Branch of OHCHR for organizing the nineteenth annual meeting and for the documents provided. They suggested that the twentieth annual meeting could concentrate on working methods, including development of a more systematic approach to communications, and follow-up methodologies. The coordination of country visits, the development of outreach tools to strengthen the visibility of mandate holders, and policy issues with regard to sources of support for mandate holders were also considered areas warranting in-depth discussion. 16