A/HRC/4/91 page 9 OHCHR and UNDP Uruguay provided legal and financial assistance to support the activities of a working group composed of representatives of the Government, parliament, academia and civil society. The aim of the working group is to prepare a draft law establishing an NHRI in Uruguay that could be adopted by the legislature. 27. As follow-up to the OHCHR mission to Chile to support the establishment of an NHRI (October 2005), the NI Unit provided advice to the Government concerning compliance with the Paris Principles by any future institution. Its regional representative has held several meetings at senior levels of Government to underline the need to have a national institution which is independent in Chile. OHCHR stands ready to provide additional support as requested. 2. Africa Network of African National Human Rights Institutions 28. OHCHR has supported the establishment of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions. The Constitution of the Network was adopted by the African Group of NHRIs in Santa Cruz during a meeting following the Eighth International Conference of NHRIs. The main purpose of the Network is to encourage the establishment of NHRIs in Africa in conformity with the Paris Principles, to strengthen the effectiveness of NHRIs in Africa and to encourage cooperation among NHRIs in Africa. Members of the Network are those NHRIs which are accredited by ICC as being in compliance with the Paris Principles. At present there are 17 members from the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. Permanent Secretariat 29. The Constitution of the Network of African NHRIs provides that a Permanent Secretariat of the Network shall be established in Nairobi. The Permanent Secretariat will focus on strengthening collaboration and networking among NHRIs through information-sharing, exchange programmes, training and capacity-building. OHCHR has provided funding for one year to recruit an Executive Director and an assistant and support for initial operating costs. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Permanent Secretariat under the general direction of the Network’s Steering Committee. OHCHR has encouraged other potential donors to support the Secretariat once a plan of action and programme of activities are defined. Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa 30. OHCHR participated in two consultative meetings of NHRIs in West Africa held from 4 to 7 July 2006 in Accra and from 8 to 11 November 2006 in Banjul, respectively. Other partner institutions such as the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the West African Bar Association and leading civil society actors and academics on human rights in West Africa also participated. 31. As a result of the consultation process, OHCHR worked with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to establish a network of NHRIs of West African States.