A/HRC/4/91 page 21 Annex THE SANTA CRUZ DECLARATION Eighth International Conference of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 24-26 October 2006 1. The Eighth International Conference of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was devoted to the theme of the role of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in dealing with migration. The Conference was organized by the Defensor del Pueblo of Bolivia from 24-26 October 2006, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of NHRIs. The participants thanked the support of the Defensoria del Pueblo, OHCHR, Rights and Democracy, the Special Fund for Ombudsman and NHRIs in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Network of NHRIs of the Americas and the British Council. 2. NHRIs express their gratitude to the Defensoria of Bolivia for its excellent organization of the conference and warm hospitality. They also appreciate the consideration extended to them by the city of Santa Cruz. They welcomed the message of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and acknowledged the stimulating presentations by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, the Chair of the Migrant Workers Committee and other keynote speakers as well as the fruitful discussions and deliberations. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world made a valuable contribution at a pre-conference forum and by actively participating in the conference itself. The conference was further enriched by the participation of the President of the Republic of Bolivia and the Prefect of the State of Santa Cruz. 3. The Eighth International Conference for NHRIs hereby adopts the following Declaration: The Eighth International Conference of NHRIs 4. Recalling the universal instruments agreed upon by States to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its additional protocols, the relevant International Labour Organization conventions and regional instruments, and other relevant international human rights instruments, 5. Recognizing that these instruments make provision for, and require States to, undertake measures to protect the rights of migrants which constitute a platform for a human rights based approach to migration,