A/HRC/13/44 Council of Europe 93. The 3rd coordination meeting between OHCHR and the Council of Europe was held in Strasbourg, France, on 16 and 17 November 2009. OHCHR held bilateral working meetings on the procedure of accreditation by the International Coordinating Committee with staff from the Council of Europe. Non-governmental organizations 94. OHCHR continued its cooperation with Rights and Democracy in organizing workshops on the universal periodic review and the international human rights system for NHRIs. OHCHR maintains cooperation with the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Amnesty International and regularly calls on NGOs for greater interaction with NHRIs. Academic institutions 95. In 2009, OHCHR strengthened its partnership with the Bristol University research programme team on the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. OHCHR participated in the University’s two round tables on the Optional Protocol and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, organized in May 2009. In September 2009, OHCHR participated in a workshop on implementation of treaty body decisions, through a presentation on the role of NHRIs in such implementation. Regional mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights 96. OHCHR convened regional consultations on enhancing cooperation between regional and international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights. These consultations were held in November and December 2009 in Africa (Addis Ababa), in cooperation with the African Union; in the Americas (Washington, D.C.), in cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS); and in Europe (Strasbourg, France), in cooperation with the Council of Europe. The purpose of the consultations was to share information on ways to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional human rights arrangements. Representatives of NHRIs participated in these consultations, where modalities of cooperation between the institutions and the regional arrangements were discussed. 97. On 4 June 2009, the General Assembly of the OAS adopted resolution AG/RES. 2448 (XXXIX-O/09), in which it referred to the role of the International Coordinating Committee in accrediting national human rights institutions in conformity with the Paris Principles and resolved to use the list of institutions accredited by the Committee with “A” status as criteria to allow those institutions participation in OAS political bodies dealing with human rights-related issues. It provides for the modalities of NHRI participation, including the allocation of dedicated seats, the issuance of institution documents under their own classification and the possibility to make oral interventions. 16 GE.10-10269