A/HRC/15/56 information in advance, in particular on relevant issues in countries to be visited. In relation to human rights mechanisms dealing with restricted information - e.g. the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, and national preventive mechanisms (often NHRIs) - it was proposed that instead of undertaking joint visits, consultations be held among them in order to discuss strategies with regard to visits, and share information on planning and key issues in countries where visits will take place. (b) Reports and publications (i) Another joint activity between international and regional human rights mechanisms that should be expanded is the elaboration of joint reports, either thematic or on situations that require special attention. The joint report on citizen security and human rights by IACHR, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and OHCHR 6 was mentioned as an example of good practice. Human rights mechanisms with similar scope can elaborate joint reports on issues of common interest. For instance, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; (ii) Participants also highlighted the advantages of adopting joint principles and guidelines which will contribute to human rights universality and the coherence of international human rights standards. For example regional and international human rights mechanisms can jointly contribute to the ongoing process aimed at updating the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; (iii) Developing joint publications constitutes another possibility for enhancing cooperation. The role played by NGOs and NHRIs in disseminating and publicizing these publications to a vast range of interlocutors and readers cannot be overstated. (c) Press releases and joint statements (i) During the workshop, it was demonstrated that the practice of issuing joint press releases reinforces the effectiveness of human rights mechanisms by increasing visibility and generating greater impact on the media. Participants agreed that it is to be recommended that human rights mechanisms, both regional and international, with similar mandates or spheres of action, e.g. independent experts on internally displaced persons and on the rights of indigenous people, increase the number of joint messages delivered to the press; (ii) Another proposal is to extend the practice of producing joint declarations and statements. Participants mentioned as a good example the joint declaration made every year by the United Nations, IACHR and ACPHR rapporteurs on freedom of expression, as well as the OSCE representative on freedom of the media, on key issues related to the right to freedom of expression. This declaration is included in the annual report to the Human Rights Council of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.7 Other human rights mechanisms with similar mandates should follow this practice by 6 7 Available at http://cidh.org/pdf%20files/SEGURIDAD%20CIUDADANA%202009%20ENG.pdf. See, for example, A/HRC/14/23/Add.2. 13