A/HRC/13/44 The role of ombudsmen, mediators and national human rights institutions in the United Nations system of promotion and protection of human rights 104. With the support of their respective permanent missions in Geneva and OHCHR, the ombudsmen of Morocco and Sweden organized a parallel event during the twelfth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2009, on the role of the ombudsman, the mediator and national human rights institutions in the United Nations system of promotion and protection of human rights, as framed by General Assembly resolutions 63/169 and 63/172. Business and human rights 105. On 6 October 2009, 30 representatives from NHRIs, NGOs and Member States met at a side event during the OHCHR consultation by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The side event, organized by the International Coordinating Committee in collaboration with OHCHR, was aimed at ensuring respect for international human rights standards at the corporate and business level. National human rights institutions as human rights defenders 106. On 6 and 7 November 2009, OHCHR, in collaboration with the NHRI of Morocco and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, organized a workshop aimed at strengthening the role of NHRIs as human rights defenders and protectors as well as at increasing participants’ knowledge and understanding of international human rights standards protecting human rights defenders. The workshop, held in Rabat, was attended by representatives from institutions in Africa and the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. NHRIs shared best practices and highlighted challenges in conducting their mandates, including death threats, inadequate witness protection systems and the need to have more training in investigation techniques and monitoring. HIV/AIDS 107. OHCHR provided support to regional workshops on HIV/AIDS, in cooperation with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the NHRIs of Denmark and Uganda. Regional workshops for NHRIs were held in Senegal (October 2009) and Peru (December 2009). Institutions were encouraged to ensure their greater involvement in national responses to HIV/AIDS, and the Handbook on HIV and Human Rights for National Human Rights Institutions was used as a tool. VI. Conclusions 108. National human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles are key elements of a strong and effective national human rights protection system. They can help ensure the compliance of national laws and practices with international human rights norms; support governments to ensure their implementation; monitor and address at the national level core human rights concerns such as torture, arbitrary detention, human trafficking and human rights of migrants; support the work of human rights defenders; and contribute to eradicate all forms of discrimination. 18 GE.10-10269