A/HRC/22/39 IV. Cooperation on promoting and protecting human rights A. Role of civil society in promoting the defence of human rights 45. In her previous report, the High Commissioner encouraged the Government to establish close cooperation with civil society organizations. In follow-up to that recommendation, the Government made room for civil society to express its views and do its work. Structures have gradually been put in place and an active network of associations for the promotion and defence of human rights has taken shape. One result has been the broad social mobilization for the national reconciliation process, achieved through information meetings and by recording the population’s expectations for transitional justice in Guinea. Civil society was also prominent in the provision of psychological and medical support to victims of the events of 28 September 2009,10 while other civil society organizations sued for damages in the criminal proceedings relating to the events of 2007, 2009 and 2010,11 as part of efforts to combat impunity and obtain reparation for victims. 46. Civil society actors are also involved in building the legal framework for the protection of human rights in Guinea, drafting, for example, a law on an independent national human rights institution and a bill criminalizing torture. It should be noted that human rights defenders were able to carry out their activities in 2012 without being intimidated or threatened. 47. OHCHR played a significant role in driving and developing the capacity of civil society. It held four training sessions on techniques of human rights research and reportwriting in the various administrative regions. It also lends technical support to a civil society training programme on transitional justice, designed by Open Societies for West Africa, an NGO.12 Regarding education and human rights awareness, OHCHR worked in cooperation with the Government to organize events for the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and Human Rights Day. It also helped set up at least seven human rights clubs in schools in Conakry and Nzérékoré. On 28 May 2012, OHCHR opened a multimedia documentation centre at its Nzérékoré office. The centre has documentation on human rights and gives free access to online resources for academia, civil society and students at all levels. 48. The challenges human rights defence organizations continue to face include: (a) ongoing political and ethnic divides, which limit the multiplier effect of their work; (b) the need to improve methods of cooperation with human rights protection mechanisms; and (c) the need to strengthen dialogue with State bodies. In that connection, the Government, as represented by the Ministry of Justice, undertook to increase their protective capacity by holding a forum with the intention of setting up a joint committee to monitor and report cases of human rights violations. B. Cooperation with international human rights mechanisms 49. During the universal periodic review, Guinea accepted the recommendation to improve further its cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. The 10 11 12 12 Association des parents et amis des victimes du 28 septembre (AVIPA), Centre mère et enfant, etc. Association guinéenne d’orientation et de réflexion pour l’action (AGORA), Association des familles des disparus du 28 septembre 2009 (AFADIS), Organisation guinéenne des droits de l’homme et du citoyen (OGDH), etc. An international NGO in the area of democracy and security. GE.13-10258