A/HRC/15/56 VI. Conclusions 52. International, regional and subregional human rights mechanisms are in agreement in recognizing both the importance and utility of strengthening cooperation. They have also agreed that the ultimate aim of such cooperation is to have a real impact at the national level, making a difference for individuals. 53. Participants have also agreed on the need to establish mechanisms in order to reinforce cooperation between international and regional human rights mechanisms. They have identified information sharing and joint activities as the main areas in which such mechanisms can be implemented. Within each of these areas participants identified spheres in which cooperation arrangements can be set up, and set out concrete proposals for achieving this. Concerning information sharing, participants agreed that best practices, jurisprudence, urgent cases and situations, and the UPR constitute the main fields in which exchange of information should be improved. They also identified a number of possible activities that could be jointly undertaken by international and regional human rights mechanisms: country visits; reports and publications; press releases and statements; raising awareness and capacity-building activities; and follow-up to decisions and recommendations emanating from international and regional human rights mechanisms. 54. The ongoing review of the Human Rights Council12 offers an opportunity for increased interaction with regional human rights mechanisms. Consideration could be given to enhancing cooperation with them, by progressively allowing their documents to be considered as official documents by the Human Rights Council, e.g. country and thematic reports. This would contribute to ending the existing compartmentalization between the United Nations and the various regional human rights systems and would allow the Human Rights Council to benefit from their expertise and gain a better knowledge of human rights issues at the regional level. 55. The importance of holding regular meetings with the participation of representatives of international and regional human rights mechanisms, governments, NHRIs and NGOs was also reaffirmed. Such meetings should be held biannually and discussions should be aimed at discussing sharing of information and joint activities, focusing on thematic priorities. In addition, focal points should be appointed in every human rights mechanism in order to maintain regular communication between mechanisms and facilitate the elaboration of a plan of work which will be a reference for cooperation between international and regional human rights mechanisms. 56. Finally, the need to provide adequate resources to make cooperation possible was highlighted. In this respect, participants urged States and intergovernmental organizations to allocate the necessary financial and human resources in order to ensure the success of this endeavour. VII. Recommendations A. Cooperation arrangements between international and regional human rights mechanisms 57. Focal points should be appointed in each human rights mechanism, including international, regional and subregional mechanisms. The National Institutions and 12 See http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/HRC_review.htm. 17