A/HRC/12/47 page 11 based on the understanding of human rights adding value and contributing to efforts on climate change. He invited the special procedures to take a more proactive role with regard to this issue. Mandate holders also had a private discussion on human rights and climate change. 41. Participants expressed their grave concern about the impact of climate changes as a threat cutting across many of the human rights addressed by their mandates. While several mandates were taking up the issue of climate change, participants noted a lack of a common strategy and resources in addressing the issue in an effective and systematic manner. They also underlined the importance of taking a more human rights-based approach to the issue by giving priority to the rights of the most vulnerable and, inter alia, encouraging technology transfer in order to combat climate change. C. Human rights and disabilities 42. Participants had an exchange of views with the Chair of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Mohammed Al-Tarawneh, who said that the adoption of the Convention marked a new era in which persons with disabilities would no longer have to suffer from an unequal application of human rights, but positive measures were essential to enable persons with disabilities to enjoy their human rights on equal terms with the other members of society. He welcomed the fact that the special procedures had included disability issues in their agenda and noted that his Committee was considering including a specific reference to cooperation with the special procedures in its working methods. 43. Participants welcomed the adoption of the Convention and the creation of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They noted the need to include attention to the rights of persons with disabilities in their mandates and to create enhanced avenues for cooperation. Mandate holders raised issues regarding the vulnerability of impaired children; victims of terrorism facing disabilities; the possibility of persons with disabilities to exercise their legal capacity; persons with disabilities in conflict or post-conflict situations suffering traumatic stress or who had become physically disabled as result of a conflict. Participants also expressed their readiness to cooperate with the Committee. VIII. COOPERATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES 44. Participants held their annual exchange of views with the chairpersons of treaty bodies on questions relating to the coordinated follow-up to special procedures’ and treaty bodies’ recommendations, including in the context of UPR. The meeting was co-chaired by the Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Naéla Gabr. 45. The need for and importance of mutual cooperation was highlighted. The mandates of the special procedures and the treaty bodies included cross-cutting issues and they should mutually support each others’ roles, joining in initiatives in order to enhance the indivisibility of human rights. Treaty body chairs suggested that special procedures mandate holders during their country visits should support the signature and ratification of the conventions and their optional protocols, and remind States of their reporting obligations. The need to institutionalize and mainstream the follow-up of recommendations of special procedures and treaty bodies, as well as those made in the framework of UPR, was discussed. Treaty body chairs also noted that

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