A/HRC/24/55 crime, including human trafficking, and underscored the importance of raising awareness and training judicial personnel and other stakeholders. C. Civil society and non-governmental organizations 50. Representatives of civil society organizations appreciated the work of mandate holders and the opportunity to address the annual meeting. A group of 10 civil society organizations, the International Service for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Alkarama, Forum-Asia, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, the Baha’i International Community, the World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the World Organization against Torture, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims and Human Rights Watch, presented a joint contribution to the meeting. They stressed the importance of following up the work of mandate holders, including the follow-up to communications and recommendations issued after country visits. Representatives of civil society organizations also expressed appreciation for efforts to improve coordination including through the Coordination Committee which is largely seen as having a positive role in ensuring links with the Human Rights Council and conveying a strong collective voice of the special procedures system as a whole. They suggested that the Coordination Committee should have a role in the selection and appointment of new mandate holders, e.g. outgoing mandate holders could prepare job descriptions based on their experience of the mandate. They also highlighted the importance of special procedures, clearly articulating what was expected in terms of cooperation by States and developing cooperation indicators. They discussed the dilemma between mainstreaming different issues throughout the work of several mandates versus focusing on specific themes. Ideas that emerged in this regard included the holding of thematic discussions at future annual meetings. 51. NGO representatives expressed gratitude for the commitment of mandate holders in taking up cases of reprisals. It was suggested that the Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures be revised to include a section on reprisals. 52. Mandate holders expressed their appreciation for the work of civil society organizations, underlining that they were central partners in their activities. They asked for the views of NGOs on emerging human rights issues, highlighted the need to have integrated follow up strategies, at national and international level, including civil society. They underlined the role of international civil society organizations in developing the capacity of local organizations to disseminate and monitor the implementation of special procedures recommendations. Mandate holders also referred to the use of new information technology in monitoring and reporting on human rights violations. They recommended that the space for civil society organizations to participate in United Nations bodies, in particular the Human Rights Council, be strengthened and protected and that their contributions be promoted. D. National human rights institutions 53. The mandate holders engaged in a dialogue with the Secretary of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Mauritius, and a member of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco. They pointed out that NHRIs constituted a bridge between the State and NGOs, and between the international human rights and national protection systems. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with special procedures including before, during and after country visits and sharing information on human rights situations. 13