A/HRC/4/91 page 19 H. Conflict prevention and prevention of torture Actors for Change project 85. The project Actors for Change: strengthening the capacity of national human rights institutions through distance and regional training, commenced in 2005 with the aim of strengthening the capacity of NHRIs to prevent torture and engage in the prevention of conflict, including early warning. Funded by the European Commission, the project is implemented by OHCHR in partnership with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and the NGO Fahamu. 86. The project consists of two training programmes: one on the prevention of conflict (supported by UNSSC) and one on the prevention of torture (supported by APT). Programmes are run with participants from NHRIs in regional groupings and have three phases: (i) interactive CD-ROM long-distance learning, available in English, French, Spanish and Russian; (ii) a conventional workshop for reviewing the material covered in the long-distance learning period; and (iii) post-workshop mentoring for selected participants to complement what they have learned in the course, and to define national strategies. 87. The programme is incentive based with the participants having to finish all three phases in order to have fully completed the programme. NHRIs in the selected regional grouping are invited to select two staff members to participate in the training programmes as part of their regular work assignments for a period of up to 14 weeks. At least one participant per NHRI must be female. 88. The pilot project has been very successful and has resulted in: (i) the finalization of material for conducting a long-distance training programme on the prevention of torture and the prevention of conflict, including training CD-ROMs in English, French, Spanish and Russian; (ii) the training of individual resource persons on torture prevention within NHRIs in the Anglophone African, Asian-Pacific, and European and Central Asian regions, and on conflict prevention in the Asian-Pacific, European and Central Asia, Francophone African, Anglophone African and Latin American and the Caribbean regions; (iii) the establishment of new regional networks between participants in each regional programme; and (iv) in several instances, improvements in the policies and procedures of participating NHRIs. For example, as a result of the torture prevention training, the NHRI of the Republic of Korea enhanced its detention-monitoring programme, the Palestinian NHRI lobbied for the criminalization of torture, and the Finnish Ombudsman’s Office strengthened the preventive aspect of its visits to detention centres. VI. CONCLUSIONS 89. Assistance to NHRIs is a key part of the efforts of OHCHR to engage countries in closing protection gaps. This involvement stems from the recognition of NHRIs as a central part of national protection systems and their role in ensuring that international norms are implemented at the national level. With the support of OHCHR, NHRIs now engage more actively in the Human Rights Council and with treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders.