A/HRC/24/32 Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. During the period under review, the judicial round tables allowed Extraordinary Chambers practitioners to share their experiences with colleagues from 17 (of 24) provinces. Discussions focused on pretrial detention and investigation techniques. OHCHR also continued to support regular meetings between the police, the courts and prisons in the provinces, especially in the North-West, through its Battambang regional office, to improve cooperation within the criminal justice system and to discuss issues related to the implementation of the Code. During the period under review, OHCHR supported 12 meetings involving the police, the courts and prison authorities across the country, including in four provinces, where such coordination mechanisms had not previously been put in place. 26. Prosecutors play a central role in the implementation of the Code of Criminal Procedure, since they are involved in every stage of the criminal procedure. In order to provide an opportunity for prosecutors to discuss how they play their role under the Code and more specifically how they could better promote respect for human rights in the criminal justice system, OHCHR partnered for the first time with the Prosecutor-General of the Supreme Court to organize the first national gathering of prosecutors from across Cambodia, in March 2013. Discussions focused on the role of the prosecutor at the pretrial and trial stages, the supervision of the judicial police, and the monitoring of excessive detention. Participants agreed on a set of recommendations, which will be included in a report on the meeting, to be published. 27. Following OHCHR assistance to the Bar Association in finalizing the text for a revised Code of Professional Conduct, the Code was adopted by the Bar Council in September 2012 and shared with all lawyers. It is worth noting that the revised Code now provides that all lawyers have the mission to protect human rights. Under the new Code, lawyers no longer need to inform or consult the Bar President before they speak to the media, unlike under the previous Code. OHCHR and the Bar Association organized a public launch of the new Code in April 2013. 28. In 2012, OHCHR established the post of Legal Advocacy Officer with the purpose of enhancing lawyers’ skills in using international human rights standards in court, and to pursue strategic litigation. In September 2012, OHCHR organized an initial training session with a group of lawyers on how to use international human rights law and jurisprudence before the courts. The Legal Advocacy Officer also worked directly with lawyers in seven cases with a view to assisting them in defending cases relevant to human rights issues and in making human rights-based arguments before the courts. Through this work, several human rights issues were brought to the attention of judges, with some success. For instance, the Legal Advocacy Officer worked with a lawyer on a case involving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The individual concerned was acquitted on appeal and released from prison. In another case involving a minor held in pretrial detention in an adult-only prison, the Legal Advocacy Officer worked closely with the lawyer to submit arguments based on international human rights law and to ensure the minor’s release. In a case involving a pregnant woman, OHCHR assisted the lawyer in securing bail for her client. 29. During the period under review, OHCHR monitored 23 cases involving human rights violations. In all cases, OHCHR liaised with judges, prosecutors and lawyers on the progress of the cases. In certain cases, OHCHR assisted victims in finding a lawyer and/or provided financial assistance to lawyers to conduct investigations and collect further evidence in favour of their client. In monitoring the subsequent nine trials, six had positive outcomes for the defendant (acquittal or sentence reduced). 30. Progress in the establishment of a national preventive mechanism on torture stalled during the period under review. Despite the Government’s announcement that a law would be drafted to establish a national preventive mechanism, no progress was made. 8