A/HRC/27/59 51. In a number of countries (e.g., Azerbaijan, Ireland and Slovenia), the national ombudsperson office is empowered to investigate complaints not only against State agencies but also local self-government authorities. VIII. Role of civil society in the planning and implementation of activities for the protection and promotion of human rights at the local level 52. Civil society should actively be involved in human rights planning and implementation at the local level. It can pressurize local authorities in adopting a human rights-based approach and making them more engaged. It also has an important monitoring role and can provide independent information and assessment of local government performance. Civil society organizations may also work directly with local government to strengthen its human rights expertise and awareness. Outside large urban municipalities, however, civil society is often weak and has little experience of monitoring or cooperating with local government.40 53. Local public officials should keep up ongoing dialogue with citizens and with civil society. There have to be well-developed channels for such communication and collaboration. 54. Measures should be taken, both nationally and internationally, to strengthen civil society capacity to monitor and engage with local government. International city networks such as United Cities and Local Governments can play a key role in developing toolkits, foster research, provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and create communities for action. 55. Analysis of the responses received to the questionnaire shows that civil society plays an important role in boosting local action in the field of human rights in the respective countries. In Hungary, for example, non-governmental organizations can participate in the planning and the implementation phase of regulations and programmes of the municipalities, in accordance with the law. In Burundi, civil society participates actively in the training on human rights for the creation of programmes of information and awarenessraising. In India, civil society representatives have been contributing to strengthening the roles of local governments in effectively addressing rights of marginalized citizens at local level. In Switzerland, organizations are free to bring forth different projects, for example against racism. In Luxembourg, the National Council for Foreigners is an example of the participation of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights. The Council is composed of civil society representatives and is a consultative body that studies the situations of foreigners and their integration. It gives recommendations on government projects and recommends policies. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that in some countries civil society does not have any role in protecting human rights at the local level. IX. Best practices 56. Some of the responses received to the questionnaire contain information on best practices with regard to the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human rights. The present section of the report attempts to analyse said information. It should be underlined that many other initiatives have been launched in different countries 40 International Council on Human Rights Policy, “Local Government and Human Rights”, p. 76. 15