A/HRC/13/44 109. The Secretary-General encourages NHRIs to be strong pillars in the fight against impunity by ensuring the functioning of an effective justice system. They have a key role to play in relation to the administration of justice, including monitoring places of detention and working with law enforcement officers to promote the rule of law. NHRIs should strive to become an effective first port of call for victims of human rights violations, nationally. 110. The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of the Rabat Declaration at the seventh Conference of African National Human Rights Institutions. The text is a testimony of the role of NHRIs in transitional justice in general as well as in facilitating and supporting the functioning of transitional justice mechanisms and processes, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation and peace. NHRIs are encouraged to give due attention to the practical recommendations of the Declaration with respect to monitoring and establishing transitional justice mechanisms. 111. The Secretary-General notes with appreciation the continuing work of the regional networks of NHRIs and encourages greater cooperation between the regional networks and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He calls for NHRI cooperation with regional human rights mechanisms such as organs of the African Union, the Inter-American System and the European human rights mechanisms, and the development of regional human rights norms and jurisprudence. He recalls that regional human rights commissions and courts and NHRIs have a symbiotic relationship in the promotion and protection of human rights. 112. The Secretary-General encourages NHRIs to continue to interact and cooperate with the United Nations human rights system and to advocate for the ratification and effective implementation of international human rights instruments. Since several new international human rights instruments, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, give NHRIs a potential monitoring and implementation role, the Secretary-General encourages States parties to strengthen the mandate and capacity of NHRIs to enable them to fulfil this role effectively. 113. The Secretary-General underlines the importance of the autonomy and independence of the ombudsmen, mediators and other NHRIs. The Secretary-General reiterates the call of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for greater cooperation between NHRIs and ombudsman institutions for the improvement of national human rights frameworks. He further encourages ombudsman institutions to comply with the Paris Principles, to strengthen their independence and increase their capacity to act as national protection mechanisms. 114. The Secretary-General recognizes the active participation of NHRIs in the Durban Review Conference and welcomes the NHRI commitments to continue to support the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Secretary-General calls on States parties to continue to support NHRIs and other national stakeholders in the implementation of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference and action plans, including through legal reform at the national level. 115. The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of the financial independence of NHRIs and autonomy for their effective performance, especially in times of financial crisis. GE.10-10269 19