A/HRC/23/18 or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the OPCAT and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. • The possibility of inviting countries outside the European region to ratify the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was flagged, in particular in the context of the evolving situation in North Africa. • Endeavours could be made for joint advocacy to encourage States to extend standing invitations to United Nations mandate holders and also to accept requests for visits from them, especially the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. • It was proposed that regular meetings between United Nations and European human rights mechanisms on torture be held in which expertise on issues in relation to torture, best practices and lessons learned could be shared. NHRIs, NPMs and NGOs should be involved as much as possible in such meetings. • Joint press releases could be issued by several human rights mechanisms only for specific situations or events in order to preserve their exceptional character. • Joint capacity building activities may also be carried out, in particular with regard to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities deprived of their liberty and CPRD standards. • Bearing in mind the public SPT Guidelines on NPMs, both United Nations and European human rights mechanisms on torture could assist States in the establishment of NPMs and could jointly provide technical assistance to them, once they are established United Nations and European mechanisms would try to coordinate their assistance to NPMs so as to avoid overlaps and duplication. • Participants highlighted the significant impact of joint activities at the local level. They suggested increasing the number of joint activities of United Nations and European human rights mechanisms on torture. • Cooperation between CAT and CPT could be strengthened and expanded to United Nations mechanisms, such as the CRPD, and other regional mechanisms. • Cooperation with United Nations relevant agencies should also be strengthened, for instance with the World Health Organization’s in the framework of the Quality Rights Project • Participants expressed the view that there could be a need in specific cases to keep track of persons or groups of persons who have cooperated with United Nations and European mechanisms to ensure their protection from reprisals. • Participants mentioned the importance for the Human Rights Council Special Procedures to act in accordance with their Code of Conduct when interacting with their colleagues from other mechanisms. 3. Follow up to recommendations • It was suggested that a working group between United Nations and European human rights mechanisms on torture be established to discuss concrete ways of cooperation with regard to follow up on recommendations made by different bodies. • Regular contact between United Nations and European human rights mechanisms on torture should be increased to follow up on the implementation of their recommendations. Videoconferences could contribute to a better coordinated follow up. 36