A/HRC/22/34 69. National human rights institutions were also mentioned as key actors in responding to reprisals at the national level. Their role included not only raising awareness of the issue and related advocacy to convince States to put an end to reprisals, but also offering physical protection to those at risk. 70. It was explained that regional networks of national human rights institutions had developed practices and expertise to address and respond to reprisals that should also be supported. 71. With regard to follow-up, delegations stressed that these exchanges of views should continue and be extended to other human rights forums to ensure a coordinated and coherent approach to reprisals. It was also suggested that all proposals made during the panel discussion should be compiled into a draft set of guiding principles as a basis for follow-up discussion. 72. Participants were of the view that the holding of the panel discussion and the commitments made by States and other stakeholders in this context was a highlight to take forward. Its conclusions should be shared with a view to maximizing protection measures for individual actors. B. Responses of panellists and concluding remarks by the moderator 73. The panellists were provided with an opportunity to respond to two sets of questions raised by Member States and non-governmental organizations. 74. Szabolcs Takács emphasized the fact that anyone who cooperated with the United Nations could be targeted, although human rights defenders were more often victims of reprisals. He highlighted recent European Union initiatives aimed at protecting human rights defenders as good practices that could be replicated, such as by appointing liaison officers for human rights defenders in diplomatic missions and having regular meeting with them; sending observers to attend trials involving human rights defenders, diplomats attending workshops and training sessions organized by non-governmental organizations; issuing emergency visas and providing human rights defenders in danger with shelter, with particular reference to the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) programme, which comprises a network of 40 host cities providing shelter in the European Union. To increase protection of persons or groups cooperating with the United Nations system, one first and important step could be to ensure that all practical information on addressing acts of reprisal or intimidation, including how to submit a reprisal case is readily available on the OHCHR website. In addition, as pointed out during the discussion, a central registry of cases of reprisal could be established to ensure proper follow-up, welcoming in this context the follow-up section of the report of the Secretary-General. This central registry would also facilitate cooperation among international and regional organizations. 75. As proposed in the report of the Secretary-General, strengthened judicial efforts should be combined with immediate, concrete measures to assist victims. For example, any public official who makes an official statement that puts human rights defenders at risk should be held accountable. In the interest of adequate prevention, all those cases should be investigated immediately, and Governments could inform the Human Rights Council about the results. The establishment of national witness protection programmes should be encouraged, and Governments that require such a programme should seek technical assistance from OHCHR. Mr. Takács also emphasized the important role played by politicians and other opinion leaders, given that public condemnation of acts of reprisal or intimidation is essential to ensure thorough national investigation and transparent reporting. Reprisals committed by non-State actors should also be investigated and perpetrators held to account, first and foremost by the Government concerned. It was also important that all 14