A/HRC/27/39 25. OHCHR provided support and technical assistance to the National Human Rights Commission of Mali to implement the recommendations made by the International Coordinating Committee when it accredited the Commission with B status in March 2012. In March 2014, with a view to transforming the Commission into a full-fledged national human rights institution, OHCHR facilitated discussions among national stakeholders on the Paris Principles and best practices, which were followed by the drafting of the necessary amendments to the enabling legislation. 26. In April 2014, OHCHR, together with UNDP, held a training workshop on handling of complaints for members of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. 27. In Swaziland, OHCHR conducted a needs assessment of the national human rights institution in May 2014, together with the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Discussions were held with the Government on draft legislation for the institution, which has been functioning without an enabling law. 28. In May 2014, OHCHR participated as a facilitator in the induction training programme for the newly appointed commissioners of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. 29. In Burkina Faso, an induction training programme was held in July 2014 for the new commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission with the aim of developing a strategic plan and internal guidelines for the Commission. 30. In compliance with the constitutional requirement that a national human rights institution be established within six months of the installation of the new National Assembly, Guinea initiated a process for the adoption of an enabling law for a national human rights institution. Since the swearing-in of the National Assembly in early 2014, OHCHR has been assisting the Government in that process. 31. As a result of advocacy and technical assistance by OHCHR, the decree on the appointment of the members of the Benin Human Rights Commission and its effective establishment was signed by the President on 6 May 2014. 32. Following advocacy and technical support by OHCHR, the Government of Madagascar agreed to submit a draft law to Parliament establishing a national human rights institution. 2. Americas and the Caribbean 33. During the period under review, the OHCHR regional offices for South and Central America, the country offices in Guatemala and Mexico and the human rights adviser to the United Nations country team in Ecuador continued to provide advice and assistance, in consultation with the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section of OHCHR, for the strengthening of national human rights institutions in the Americas. Capacity-building activities 34. In early 2013, at the request of the newly established national human rights institution of Uruguay, OHCHR funded the recruitment of a consultant to support that body’s institutional development. 35. In November 2013, in cooperation with the Ombudsman of Panama, OHCHR developed a protocol to address cases of racial discrimination against indigenous people and Afro-descendants. 6