A/HRC/10/54 page 12 3. Asia and the Pacific Thirteenth annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Institutions 44. The thirteenth annual meeting of the Asian-Pacific Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur from 28 to 31 July 2008. The meeting, hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and co-sponsored by OHCHR, brought together almost 170 representatives from national human rights institutions, regional Governments, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations to discuss a number of key human rights concerns facing the region, including human rights and corporate social responsibility, the universal periodic review, human rights defenders and the rights of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities. 45. In its presentation at the meeting, OHCHR mentioned its commitment to establish new national human rights institutions and strengthen existing ones in the region, in cooperation with United Nations and regional and national partners, such as Governments, existing institutions in the region and regional coordinating bodies. It also flagged the improvements made to the accreditation process in April 2008 and the importance for human rights institutions to engage with the international human rights system, in particular to ensure follow-up at the country level. OHCHR expressed its support for a subregional body of national human rights institutions, such as the human rights mechanism of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 46. In the concluding statement (see annex I), the Forum reaffirmed the success of its partnership with OHCHR and looked forward to enhancing mutual cooperation and support, including through the holding of a Pacific workshop on national human rights institutions. It also expressed appreciation to the Chairperson of the International Coordinating Committee for her leadership in the review and development of Committee governance. International conference on the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants in a multicultural society 47. From 10 to 12 November 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea organized an international conference on the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants in a multicultural society. In a video message, the High Commissioner for Human Rights underscored the crucial role that national human rights institutions can play by contributing to a constructive and coherent worldwide strategy to ensure respect for migrants’ rights, curb discrimination and build social cohesion. 4. Europe European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights 48. On 16 May 2008, OHCHR attended a meeting in Vienna, organized by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on the added value of cooperation between the Agency and national human rights institutions. A total of 13 institutions from the European Union Member States, as well as the Council of Europe, participated in the event. The meeting recognized and accepted the value and significance of the International Coordinating Committee network, especially its accreditation process, and the need for closer cooperation between the Agency and OHCHR.

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