A/HRC/20/9 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 1 May 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda items 2 and 8 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights Report of the Secretary-General* ** Summary The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 17/9, requesting the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the resolution. The report, covering the period January 2011 to March 2012, contains information on the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to establish and strengthen national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (NHRIs), cooperation between NHRIs and the international human rights system and OHCHR support to the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and regional networks of NHRIs. This report should be read in conjunction with the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the International Coordinating Committee in accrediting NHRIs in compliance with the Paris Principles (A/HRC/20/10). * ** GE.12-13341 Through this text, all references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population shall be understood in the context of the Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo. Late submission.