A/HRC/28/41 7. Regional human rights mechanisms 94. The Chairperson highlighted the importance that the special procedures system had placed on cooperation with regional mechanisms over the years, particularly because such cooperation added value to the work of both systems. 95. Marison Blanchard, a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, provided an overview of the work of the inter-American system, with a particular focus on the Commission. The priority topics of the thematic special procedures of the Commission included racism in the judicial system; indigenous women’s rights, including disappearances of indigenous women; corporal punishment; the impact of organized violence on the rights of children; migrant children’s rights; the use of criminal law to prosecute human rights defenders; the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons; and economic, social and cultural rights. 96. Ms. Blanchard gave examples of good cooperation between the Commission and the special procedures. The support of the special procedures of the Council had proven to be effective, particularly at times when efforts were being made to weaken the regional system. The Commission was willing to enhance cooperation. 97. Mandate holders sought further discussion on the petition procedure, country visits and joint statements. They also added other examples of ongoing or upcoming cooperation, and expressed openness to forging links with the Commission. A number of themes emerged for further exchanges between the two systems in relation to development of standards and common positions. 98. Mandate holders also discussed the status of implementation of the Addis Ababa road map agreed between the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on 17 and 18 January 2012. The Chairperson of the joint working group on the implementation of the road map outlined the main activities carried out since June 2013. He highlighted the review of the road map conducted between the two systems on the margins of the fifty-fifth ordinary session of the Commission and some issues of common interest, such as the right to life, child marriage, and business and human rights. He encouraged mandate holders to pursue cooperation with all regional human rights mechanisms in a way that was respectful of the priorities and procedures of those mechanisms. 8. National human rights institutions 99. The mandate holders welcomed the Secretary of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, who pointed out that national human rights institutions constituted a bridge between the State and non-governmental organizations, and between international human rights and national protection systems. The Committee was committed to strengthening cooperation with the special procedures in respect of country visits and information-sharing on human rights situations. It intended to develop a compilation of good practices in collaboration with the special procedures. 100. The mandate holders recalled the important role played by national human rights institutions in promoting and protecting human rights. They thanked these institutions for their work in disseminating the findings of the special procedures and, in some instances, in following up on their recommendations. They agreed to continue working together, particularly in the context of country visits. 18