A/HRC/30/28 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 27/26, the Human Rights Council took note with appreciation of the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on technical assistance and capacity-building options for integrating human rights into national policies (A/HRC/27/41), prepared pursuant to Council resolution 23/19. In its resolution 27/26, the Council further decided to convene, at its twenty-eighth session, a panel discussion on the issue of national policies and human rights, with a particular focus on the findings of the report, identifying challenges, further developments and good practices in mainstreaming human rights in national policies and programmes. The Council also requested OHCHR to prepare a summary report on the discussions of the panel, and to present it to the Council before its thirtieth session. The present report was prepared pursuant to that request. 2. Pursuant to Council resolution 27/26, a panel discussion was held on 19 March 2015 aimed at exploring further the opportunities for States to integrate their obligations and commitments under international human rights law into national legislation, and to prepare and implement national policies geared towards the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 3. The panel discussion was chaired by the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Juan Esteban Aguirre Martínez. It was moderated by the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Rytis Paulauskas. The Chief of the Americas, Europe and Central Asia Branch, Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division of OHCHR made an opening statement. The panel comprised the Minister and Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Social Action of Paraguay, Héctor Cárdenas; the National Secretary for Planning and Development of Ecuador, Pabel Muñoz; Professor of Law and former Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council Vitit Muntarbhorn; Professor of Law and Director of the Faculty of Law ot the University of Trento, Italy, Giuseppe Nesi; and Responsible Adviser for studies and analysis at the Ministry of National Solidarity, Family and Women’s Affairs of Algeria, Dalila Aliane. 4. In his introductory remarks, the Vice-President of the Human Rights Council introduced the panellists and pointed out that the purpose of the discussion was to explore different worldwide experiences of mainstreaming human rights in national policies in order to bridge the gap between legal human rights obligations and their implementation by the State. Opening statement 5. In his opening statement, the Chief of the Americas, Europe and Central Asia Branch of OHCHR noted that the welcome increase in ratifications of international human rights instruments and the expansion of States’ engagement with the international and regional human rights mechanisms had generated a growing need for the implementation of recommendations of the international human rights bodies. In recent years, OHCHR had also seen a marked increase in requests from States for technical assistance. In response to the demand, OHCHR field presences, together with staff at headquarters, had provided support for the development of new and more effective national and sectorial policies, indicators and mechanisms for implementation. In developing their national plans and programmes, many States had adopted human rights-based and results-based approaches. This was essential in order to ensure that all national stakeholders, human rights institutions, civil society actors and other relevant partners had the opportunity to influence and contribute to such processes. 2