A/HRC/27/39 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 23/17, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session on the implementation of that resolution. The report outlines progress achieved since the previous relevant report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/23/27) and during the period from April 2013 to August 2014. It should be read in conjunction with the report of the Secretary-General to the Council on the activities of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (hereafter the International Coordinating Committee) in accrediting national institutions in compliance with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles) (A/HRC/27/40). 2. In resolution 23/17, the Human Rights Council recognized the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in assisting the development of independent and effective national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles. It also recognized the potential for strengthened and complementary cooperation among OHCHR, the International Coordinating Committee, regional coordinating committees of national institutions and the national institutions themselves. The Council also emphasized the role of independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in working together with their Governments to ensure full respect for human rights at the national level, including by contributing as appropriate to actions following up on the recommendations of international human rights mechanisms. 3. The Council encouraged the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles. II. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and national human rights institutions A. Advisory services 4. OHCHR activities to establish and/or strengthen national human rights institutions are coordinated by the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section. Together with OHCHR field presences, and in collaboration with other United Nations entities, in particular the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and with regional networks of national human rights institutions, OHCHR assists Governments in establishing national human rights institutions and/or contributes to building the capacity of such institutions. In that context, OHCHR works closely with regional intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. 5. OHCHR provides national human rights institutions and other stakeholders with technical and legal assistance, particularly regarding constitutional and legislative frameworks relating to the establishment, nature, functions, powers and responsibilities of institutions. OHCHR also conducts and supports comparative analyses, technical cooperation projects, needs assessments and evaluation missions to establish and strengthen the capacity of national human rights institutions to discharge their mandate effectively. 3