A/HRC/32/51 particularly evident in Ukraine, the Board had observed a similar degree of appreciation in other countries it visited, such as Cambodia, Mexico and Tunisia. 19. During the visit, the Board held discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice on the support provided in various thematic areas, including through technical cooperation and advisory services. Particularly important for the Board was the clear expectation that the Mission would continue to play a key role in providing technical advice and support beyond its current short-term mandate. While there had been numerous reforms, institutions had been established and new laws, policies and practices relevant to human rights promotion and protection formulated, all partners interviewed held that Ukraine still required major technical support and advice to continue to make the reforms and their operationalization fully compliant with international human rights standards. The current efforts of the Mission to start issuing thematic reports with focused and analytical discussions were eagerly awaited and welcomed by all partners. They stated that the reports could further strengthen their own capacity to better support the State, with cooperation more focused on areas requiring particular attention. 20. The Board considered that one of the most significant factors limiting the capacities to further build on the achievements made to date was the very short-term nature of the Mission’s mandate. While the initial deployment was for three months, it had been subsequently extended every three months for two years, until the most recent extension, which was for six months, until September 2016. In view of the clear expectations of the Government and partners in country, the Board very much hoped that the Government and OHCHR would agree on a three-year plan, based on annual mandates, that would enable more strategic planning, longer-term programmes and projects to meet ongoing expectations for technical assistance and to support more sustained and realistic fundraising possibilities. The Board appreciated the excellent capacities of the Mission to build solid partnerships with all actors in the country and the openness and frankness of all interlocutors in expressing their appreciation for the added value of its work at this critical juncture for Ukraine. Particularly relevant was the interest in relying on the Mission’s views and guidance to ensure that technical cooperation addressed the key concerns and focused on achieving sustainable results for the people of Ukraine. 21. Discussions with civil society representatives were also particularly helpful for the Board to understand the complexities of the situation and to develop expectations of how the Mission, through technical cooperation, could protect and increase space for civil society to operate and better engage with the human rights mechanisms. 22. During meetings with the Board, the Resident Coordinator and representatives of United Nations agencies and programmes, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the International Labour Organization, confirmed the critical guiding role that OHCHR was playing on the ground, including in advising on the support of the Human Rights Up Front initiative in the context of implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. All agencies confirmed their reliance on the Mission’s reports and advice to adequately integrate key human rights issues into United Nations common analysis and programmatic interventions. The Board was extremely pleased by the level of coordination and support on the ground. The Mission, its advice and its reports served as the main references for all United Nations partners in the context of their own mandates. How the United Nations system was taking advantage of the Mission’s expertise was, in the eyes of the Board, a good practical example of the functioning of the Human Rights Up Front initiative. 23. The Board also met with the Ombudsman’s Office to discuss the cooperation opportunities with the Mission for strengthening the national protection system. Following the interest expressed by the Ombudsman’s Office in strengthening the mechanisms for 7