A/HRC/28/63 63. Regional organizations can and must play a role in the protection of human rights defenders. The Special Rapporteur’s predecessors initiated and developed good relations with the African and inter-American mechanisms. The Special Rapporteur participated with interest in the inter-mechanism consultation, held in Paris, where the parties explored avenues for closer cooperation, which will need to be assessed before their scope is extended. Such cooperation could take a number of different forms: joint public appeals, joint missions or the publication in the media of joint opinion columns. 64. The Special Rapporteur considers that the principle of subsidiarity should apply to the protection of human rights defenders. It is the responsibility of States, above all, to protect defenders by such means as the adoption of legislative or regulatory measures aimed at their protection. The Special Rapporteur intends to redouble his efforts to convince governments to introduce specific national measures, as Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire and Mexico have done. He intends to hold consultations and publish a study on this topic, with a view to showing the effectiveness of national mechanisms to ensure the protection of human rights defenders and the measures that should be taken to improve their efficiency. 65. If States fail to take action, therefore, regional mechanisms should, where they exist and where possible, be in a position to take action to ensure the protection of human rights defenders. Unfortunately, by contrast with Africa and the Americas, there is no specific mechanism in Europe or Asia. 66. The Special Rapporteur has initiated extremely promising contacts with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, who both requested him to maintain coordination in Europe with their respective mandates. The same applies to OSCE, which, with the publication of its guidelines on human rights defenders, has provided its member States with a useful tool. 67. The previous Special Rapporteur highlighted the specific role that national human rights institutions could play in the promotion and protection of human rights defenders (see document A/HRC/22/47). The Special Rapporteur intends to develop closer ties with human rights institutions both individually and collectively through the International Coordinating Committee, regional networks or national institutions to ensure publicity for the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. 68. National human rights institutions accredited with “A” status should play a primary role in protection and should take responsibility for following up recommendations addressed to their government by the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations. The Special Rapporteur counts on their active participation in the preparation and follow-up of visits that he will undertake in their countries, including the short followup visits mentioned earlier in this report. 69. While acting in accordance with the working rules of special procedures mandate holders and upholding the independence required of each of them, the Special Rapporteur intends to continue and develop his excellent relations with international, regional and national NGOs working for the protection of human rights defenders, particularly NGOs that are specifically involved in the protection or relocation of defenders. 70. These organizations do remarkable work in protecting and training human rights defenders on the ground, but such training must be extended and should not be given only to defenders who live in the capitals or other large cities. The first regional consultations highlighted a pressing need for training, for which the Special Rapporteur counts on the relevant NGOs. GE.14-25280 11