A/HRC/4/49 page 3 Introduction 1. This report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 2/102. I submitted a comprehensive annual report on follow-up to the World Conference for Human Rights to the sixty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/2006/10) which I subsequently presented to the Human Rights Council at its second session. The current report should also be read in the context of my report submitted to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly (A/61/36). I. SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AND ITS MECHANISMS 2. My Office continued to support the Human Rights Council during this transition period. The three Working Groups, representing six parallel institution-building processes, have achieved significant progress on a number of issues, particularly in relation to the review of the complaints procedure and expert advice. 3. In my recent report to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly (A/61/36), I noted that the establishment of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism would be a crucial test for the Council and that two critical elements, universality of coverage and the equal treatment of all Member States, should be guaranteed and fully integrated into the new mechanism from the outset. I also outlined other elements considered crucial for an inclusive, results-oriented, well-structured, comprehensive, manageable and transparent UPR process, in particular the willingness of countries under review to open themselves to genuine scrutiny, and the need to attain synergy and complementarity, rather than overlap and duplication, with other existing human rights mechanisms. 4. Having fully reflected on the broad range of proposals and possible options on UPR before the Council, I share the view that the comprehensive and substantive review of States’ fulfilment of their human rights obligations and commitments, one that will provide a full understanding of a country’s human rights situation and identify gaps that may require concerted action to improve protection capacity, will hinge upon - and can only be ensured through - an effective preparatory process. In this context, the Council should utilize, and would benefit from, the involvement of independent, qualified and experienced experts. My Office, of course, stands ready to provide support and assistance to the Council whatever modalities are developed and agreed upon in the near future. 5. As for the special procedures, it is a system which has developed over the past three decades and has played a crucial role in the protection and promotion of human rights. The issue of strengthening special procedures has taken on prominence as the system is being examined by the Human Rights Council. My Office has been actively contributing to these efforts. My staff is also providing support for, and has produced background documentation at the request of, the facilitator of the review of special procedures. At the same time, my Office is supporting the substantive participation of mandate-holders in various stages of the review process, with the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures.