A/HRC/10/54 page 19 society, and the specific role of United Nations agencies therein; and (c) strategies for helping human rights institutions to carry out their functions effectively and the specific role of United Nations agencies. V. COOPERATION WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS Universal periodic review workshops 81. In April, July and October 2008, Rights and Democracy, OHCHR, the Francophonie and the Commonwealth Secretariat organized universal periodic review workshops in Geneva, Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi. Various national human rights institutions that participated in the review process shared their experience. Non-governmental organization forum (Nairobi) 82. As part of the ninth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions, a forum was held with over 100 participants from international, regional and national organizations. The main theme was improving access to justice for vulnerable groups through partnerships between non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions. OHCHR briefed participates on current activities to strengthen the capacity of institutions to fulfil their core mandate, including through a more rigorous accreditation process. A plan of action for cooperation between institutions and non-governmental organizations was developed by some 50 organizations at the Forum. Some, including Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurors, expressed their interest in helping OHCHR to enhance the protection potential of institutions at the national level to make them the first “port of call” for victims of human rights violations and vulnerable groups. Equitas 83. During the above-mentioned conference, Equitas launched a new handbook on economic, social and cultural rights for women, developed in partnership with UNDP for human rights institutions. Harvard University Law School human rights programme 84. At the above-mentioned conference, the Director of the human rights programme of Harvard University Law School gave an overview of the programme and described the range of opportunities available to institutions, including fellowships, internship and dedicated support from a large number of Harvard Law school students. He also referred to a planned publication on institutions and the administration of justice by Harvard University and OHCHR. Association for the Prevention of Torture 85. In 2008, OHCHR, in cooperation with the Association for the Prevention of Torture and the Asia-Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions developed a publication entitled “Prevention of torture: an operational guide for national human rights institutions”, which builds