A/HRC/12/47 page 12 reports of special procedures, in particular country mandates, were sources of valuable information for the examination of State party reports and called for a more active and continuous dialogue in that regard. 46. Participants highlighted the importance of the committees’ general comments in their work. New dimensions or focus areas should be included in the work of special procedures, for example, migration, in particular by the mandate holders on housing and trafficking; children living in prisons with parents; considering people in conflict and post-conflict situations as victims of discrimination; torture and inadequate housing; and the situation of people with disabilities. 47. Mandate holders suggested to the treaty bodies the progressive development of human rights law and concepts, including through the consideration of human rights and climate change, the food crisis, biofuels, the financial crisis and other matters. The treaty bodies intended to continue to invite mandate holders to participate in regular sessions of the committees and to include them in the committees’ activities and thematic debates. IX. CONSULTATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS A. Consultations with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions 48. Participants held a discussion with representatives of civil society and national human rights institutions who had been invited to discuss increased interaction to strengthen follow-up to the work of the special procedures, including communications, country visits and thematic studies. Both mandate holders and civil society representatives highlighted the importance of a joint effort to better assess human rights situations and the implementation of recommendations made by special procedures, treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms. 49. All the representatives of civil society and national human rights institutions expressed their strong support for the special procedures system. Among the various issues raised were the relationship between special procedures mandate holders and the Human Rights Council; transparency and objectivity in the proceedings of the consultative group for the selection of mandate holders; the need for a follow-up mechanism for recommendations; reprisals against individuals cooperating with United Nations mechanisms; the need to consult local NGOs and NHRIs concerning country visits; the commitment of States to implement recommendations; the mainstreaming of thematic mandates; and the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights. 50. A representative of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions and the Head of the National Institutions Unit of OHCHR emphasized the fundamental role of NHRIs in promoting the effective implementation of recommendations resulting from international mechanisms in a coordinated manner. The need to further develop the involvement of mandate holders in all the phases of the partnership between NHRIs and special procedures, including the preparation and conduct of country visits, the presentation of reports by special procedures at the Human Rights Council and in the context of UPR, was raised.