A/HRC/4/91
page 18
78.
The outcome of the Round Table was, inter alia, the need for NHRIs: (i) to have
responsibility to engage effectively with political representatives; (ii) to broadly interpret their
mandates; (iii) to cooperate and monitor decisions of the judiciary; (iv) to address impunity at the
earliest stage; (v) to engage in training activities; (vi) to address economic, social and cultural
rights; (vii) to work with the media; (viii) to provide temporary assistance; and (ix) to recognize
the importance of non-State actors in conflict and post-conflict situations. The conclusions of
the Round Table can be found at www.nhri.net.
D. Gender
79.
The gender component is mainstreamed throughout the activities and mandates of
NHRIs. For example, within the framework of the Actors for Change project (see section H
below), OHCHR is actively promoting the participation of female staff members of NHRIs in the
training programmes. For each regional training programme, NHRIs are requested to select two
staff members one of whom must be female.
E. Rights of persons with disabilities
80.
NHRIs had engaged with the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights and Dignity of Persons
with Disabilities and its Working Group to prepare a draft text of a convention. OHCHR
financially and substantively supported a representative of the ICC of NHRIs to the seventh and
eighth sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee.
81.
It is important to highlight article 33 of the newly adopted Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, which states that “States Parties shall ... maintain, strengthen,
designate or establish within the State Party, a framework, including one or more independent
mechanisms, as appropriate, to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present
Convention. When designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into
account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection
and promotion of human rights.”
F. Minorities
82.
Cooperation with different branches of OHCHR dealing with minority issues has
continued since 2005 with the publishing of the pamphlet on the work of NHRIs and minority
issues, as requested by the Working Group on Minorities, for inclusion in the United Nations
Guide for Minorities (see E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/3).
83.
The OHCHR Minority Fellowship Programme, working in close cooperation with the
NI Unit, offered the opportunity in 2006 for six Minority Fellows to assist in servicing the 2006
International Coordinating Committee meeting.
G. HIV/AIDS
84.
OHCHR, in cooperation with UNAIDS, has finalized a handbook on the role of NHRIs
in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and in combating HIV/AIDS-related discrimination. The
handbook will be published in 2007 and rolled out through a series of workshops with NHRIs at
the regional level.
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