A/HRC/23/20 recommendations of special procedures and the universal period review should be strengthened. 53. There was also room for enhancement of cooperation not only on the universal periodic review process but also on a number of other issues highlighted by the experts. The importance of special procedures and civil society was underlined. 54. In his concluding remarks, the Chairperson observed that, throughout the historical development of the international human rights system, international cooperation had played a role. There had been international cooperation in the development of norms, and today there was an international code of human rights. There had been international cooperation for development, the latest manifestation of this being the Millennium Development Goals. There has been international cooperation in the operations of the human rights treaty procedures; in dealing with outrageous violations such as genocide and, previously, apartheid; in the development of the concept of the “responsibility to protect”, which envisaged preventive, mitigating and remedial measures for cases of genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and war crimes; in the establishment and operation of human rights fact-finding procedures; and in the values and policies laid down for the twenty-first century through the Millennium Declaration. 55. With regard to the law of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Member States had undertaken to cooperate under, inter alia, articles 1, 55 and 56 of the Charter, within the framework of human rights treaties, and under international customary law. In order to prevent, mitigate and address gross violations of human rights, Member States had undertaken to cooperate with the Security Council and the Human Rights Council. 56. The Human Rights Council had made numerous policy pronouncements on the concept of international cooperation, reiterating that it was one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation. The enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of human rights. In addition to their responsibilities before their own people, States had a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. International cooperation in the field of human rights, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue aimed at strengthening the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations, to the benefit of all human beings. The role of international cooperation was to support national efforts and to assist in building the capacities of Member States in the field of human rights through, inter alia, the enhancement of their cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including through the provision of technical assistance, upon the request and in accordance with the priorities set by the States concerned. States should take the measures necessary to enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation aimed at addressing the adverse impact of consecutive global crises, such as financial and economic crises, food crises, climate change and natural disasters, on the full enjoyment of human rights. 57. International cooperation had, and would continue to have, a vital role to play in addressing contemporary and future challenges of an evolving world. Urgent cooperative measures were needed in the face of such challenges as climate change, 13