A/HRC/10/54 page 11 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Representative endorsed the International Coordinating Committee accreditation process for institutions, and stressed the importance of their continued engagement with the international human rights system through United Nations treaty bodies and the universal periodic review. 2. Africa 39. OHCHR supported the establishment of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions in 2007, the main purpose of which is to encourage the establishment of human rights institutions in Africa in conformity with the Paris Principles, to strengthen their effectiveness, and to encourage cooperation among them in Africa. The Network includes institutions accredited by the International Coordinating Committee and compliant with the Paris Principles. The Constitution of the Network provides that a permanent secretariat of the Network is established in Nairobi. With the financial support of OHCHR, an executive director was recruited, as was an assistant. In 2008, OHCHR continued to provide financial support for the permanent secretariat. OHCHR also encouraged various partners to contribute both financially and technically to building its capacity. 40. A strengthened network of African national human rights institutions can help to improve the human rights situation on the continent. The network highlighted its commitment to achieving greater coherence and better coordination with various stakeholders involved in the protection of human rights in Africa. In 2008, interaction between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and human rights institutions in the region developed further. The election of the Chairperson of the network in 2008 as one of the five new members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights provided an opportunity to develop synergy between African institutions and regional human rights protection mechanisms. 41. The Network of African National Human Rights Institutions participated in the forty-third and forty-forth sessions of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights, held respectively in Swaziland from 7 to 22 May 2008, and in Abuja from 10 to 24 November 2008. Participation was in the context of the African Commission’s resolution 31 (XXIV) 98, adopted on 31 October 1998 during the twenty-fifth session held in Banjul, in which the Commission decided to grant special observer status to any national institution established in Africa and functioning according to internationally recognized norms and standards. 42. The Arab European Human Rights Dialogue, held in Rabat from 6 to 8 May 2008, was an opportunity for European and Arab human rights institutions to discuss legislative and practical challenges related to migrants’ rights. It focused on the role of institutions in promoting and protecting the rights of migrants. 43. From 24 to 26 August 2008, OHCHR organized an intergovernmental regional preparatory meeting for Africa, hosted by the Government of Nigeria at the secretariat of the Economic Committee of West African States in Abuja. Invitation letters were widely distributed throughout the Network. OHCHR supported the participation of staff from the African secretariat and A-status national human rights institutions, from Malawi, the Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, the United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.