A/HRC/21/62 19. The role of national human rights institutions in guaranteeing human rights is highly important, including in the promotion of public education and awareness on human rights, human rights monitoring and investigation, and in advising the Government and Parliament on human rights issues. In this regard, the Independent Expert urges the Government and international partners to provide appropriate support to enable the National Commission for Human Rights to fulfil its role effectively. He considers the Commission an important partner for the fulfilment of his mandate on technical assistance and capacity-building, and stresses the need for the Commission to apply for accreditation to the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions in order to review its compliance with the Paris Principles. Association with the Coordinating Committee, including its regional networks (such as the network of African national human rights institutions), would also enable the Commission to interact with other competent institutions, and thus enhance its knowledge and capacity on human rights issues, including interaction with the United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms. 20. During the meeting held with the Independent Expert, members of the National Commission for Human Rights highlighted the body’s various capacity-building needs, including for a comprehensive human rights database and a library to assist the work of the Commissioners. They also expressed the importance of ensuring that commissioners are provided with training opportunities both in-country and internationally, as well as of establishing contact with the national human rights institutions of other countries to learn from their good practices. The commissioners expressed the hope that subregional offices would be soon established in the different States of the Sudan, in order to extend the operation of the Commission to the remotest parts of the country. 21. The Independent Expert was pleased to note that the importance of supporting the National Commission for Human Rights by both the Government of the Sudan and international partners was fully appreciated by all stakeholders. He also received expressions in principle from some ambassadors and United Nations agencies of support for the training needs of the Commission. He strongly recommends that the Commission be supported through the Technical Cooperation Programme in the Field of Human Rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). It could also benefit from other training opportunities, such as the fellowship programme offered by the National Human Rights Institutions section of OHCHR, which could be most useful for staff members and commissioners. 22. The Independent Expert also met with representatives of other human rights-related institutions, including the Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly, the National Council for Child Welfare and the Unit for Combating Violence against Women and Children. The need for training to enhance their capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights was underscored. Training for staff members of the National Commission for Human Rights, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, the Legislature, the Police service, the Armed Forces, other security agencies and Government institutions was also highlighted in other meetings. The Independent Expert is ready to follow up with international partners to secure their assistance in facilitating training programmes for these bodies. 23. During his visit, the Independent Expert received various proposals for technical assistance and capacity-building from different institutions: for example, the Advisory Council on Human Rights has compiled a number of proposals for technical assistance projects with the objective of addressing various human rights concerns, including capacity-building of national and local actors in the area of gender and the elimination of violence against women; increasing awareness of the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law among officials and civil society; strengthening the administration of justice at the national and State levels; and strengthening the promotion 6