A/HRC/34/34 9. Discussion with Conference Management of the United Nations Office at Geneva 77. Mandate holders held a discussion with representatives of Conference Management of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and raised obstacles encountered in the execution of their mandates in relation to the editing, translating and processing of reports to be submitted to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. Particular concerns were raised over the balance between linguistic editing and changing the substance of reports, the restrictions imposed by the word limit for joint reports, and issues with regard to deadlines for the submission of reports. 10. Discussion with representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner on administrative and travel-related issues 78. Representatives of the travel and finance sections of OHCHR provided mandate holders with information on applicable rules and procedures to follow in relation to administrative and travel issues connected to their mandates. The mandate holders raised particular concerns over restrictive rules with regard to travel, suitable travel arrangements for persons with disabilities and mothers traveling with young infants, and requested the Coordination Committee to remain seized of progress made to implement adequate measures. C. 1. Consultations with stakeholders United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 79. The High Commissioner shared his thoughts on the current trends that had a negative impact on the state of the world, including increasing restrictions on civil society space, and the growing number of attacks on fundamental bodies of law and on international institutions. In the light of these developments, the High Commissioner questioned the role of the international community and its capacity to speak as one rather than as an aggregation of particular interests. He expressed appreciation for the extraordinary amount of work done by special procedures and his commitment to ensure their independence, while seeking to create synergies where possible. 80. The mandate holders thanked the High Commissioner for the opportunity to exchange views with him. They raised questions and made suggestions regarding the relationship between mandate holders and Resident Coordinators, in particular with regard to country mandates, enhancing linkages between the treaty bodies and the universal periodic review with special procedures, policy and practical developments in relation to the allegations of sexual abuse in the context of peacekeeping operations, the full recognition of economic, social and cultural rights as human rights, the relationship between OHCHR and special procedures, the issue of reprisals against those cooperating with the United Nations in the field of human rights and with regional mechanisms, and the need for a gender balance among mandate holders. 2. Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of the Office of the High Commissioner 81. The Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division underlined the importance of the work of special procedures individually, and of the way in which the system of special procedures as a whole had evolved. The increase in the number of mandate holders had, however, also led to a greater need for coordination; the work of the Coordination Committee had proved to be a great asset in this regard. 15