A/HRC/15/56 B. 1. Main areas of cooperation Sharing of information 45. Participants agreed on the need for adequate channels for exchange of information between international and regional human rights mechanisms in a regular and systematic manner, and identified some areas in which sharing of information would contribute to a more effective protection of human rights. (a) Best practices (i) Information sharing on best practices and lessons learned in promoting and protecting human rights is one pillar of cooperation. International and regional human rights mechanisms will implement policies, which have produced successful results in other mechanisms. For example, international mechanisms could put in place innovative practices developed by regional mechanisms in Africa or the Americas; (ii) In addition, working methods, rules of procedure and reporting procedures should be shared among human rights mechanisms in order to identify areas in which cooperation is feasible. Another proposal is to share information on lessons learned and best practices regarding follow-up and implementation of recommendations by regional and international human rights mechanisms. (b) Jurisprudence (i) Judicial and quasi-judicial human rights mechanisms should set up a system for regular exchange of jurisprudence. This should include reports, concluding observations, general comments, opinions, views, communications sent by independent experts to States, rulings, decisions and recommendations. In addition, participants agreed that information sharing should also include information prior to consideration of reports, as well as on follow-up to implementation of recommendations of both international and regional human rights mechanisms. Participants proposed the publication of compilations of jurisprudence, bibliographies, regular electronic bulletins, including main decisions adopted during a period of time, etc. These publications can be either jointly produced or under the auspices of one mechanism, i.e., OHCHR, Council of Europe, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Union (AU); (ii) Another proposal is to hold regular meetings to discuss jurisprudence on specific topics, i.e., right to life, enforced disappearances, economic, social and cultural rights, etc. Minutes of such meetings should be published and widely disseminated. Moreover, it was proposed that every mechanism have the possibility to present amicus curiae before others. (c) Urgent cases and situations (i) Specific arrangements should be established between international and regional human rights mechanisms to share information on urgent cases or situations, in order to ensure a quick and effective response. For instance, rapporteurs of regional and international mechanisms can issue joint press releases on human rights violations. In this regard, the existing practice of joint press releases of the United Nations and Inter-American rapporteurs on the right to freedom of expression was highlighted; 11

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