A/HRC/23/18 “Tacking stock of progress in cooperation between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms” Objective: This session will allow participants to share experiences and best practices in relation to cooperation initiatives between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms, including their added value and challenges encountered in their implementation. Discussions will also aim at identifying ways and means to replicate best practices in other mechanisms and/or areas of cooperation. Chair: Mexico 10:30 – 12:00 Taking stock of developments in the cooperation activities between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms, in particular after the 2010 international workshop Panellists: Vladlen Stefanov, Chief OHCHR National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section Ms. Wan-Hea Lee, Human Rights Treaties Division Ms. Federica Donati, Special Procedures Branch Mr. Med Kaggwa, African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights Mr. Emilio Alvarez Icaza, Inter-American Commission of Human Rights Mr. Daniele Cangemi, Council of Europe Mr. Rafendi Djamin, ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission Human Rights Ambassador Abdul Wahab, OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission 12:00 – 13:00 Discussion 13:00 – 15:00 Lunch break 15:00 – 17:40 Session 1 “How to improve information sharing between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms on the example of prevention of torture mandates and activities” Objective: This session will allow participants to share methods of work, best practices and lessons learned; information on strategy and planning, as well as jurisprudence and standards developed by each mechanism, so as to identify common priorities, challenges, synergies and possible complementarities. The role of NHRIs, NPMs and NGOs with regard to information sharing will also be discussed. In addition, this session will focus on issues raised at the regional consultations held in 2011 and 2012 with Inter-American, European, ASEAN and African regional human rights mechanisms: Should institutional channels be established in order to exchange information? If yes, what kind? How to implement them? What are the key areas of collaboration which will allow overcoming information sharing obstacles? How to better share United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms’ information on planning of visits, preparation of reports, actions on individual cases, methods of work, and good practices? What will be the role of the mechanisms’ secretariats in an enhanced cooperation? 20