A/HRC/42/22 government that is due, in part, to social issues and human rights being a major prerogative in the work of the mayor’s office. Daily interaction between mayors, their staff and the population they serve, together with virtual communication tools, such as interactive help desks on municipal websites, help to promote cooperative and open local government. Trinidad and Tobago has developed government portals, websites and social media as a way to allow people to access information about local services. 20. Leadership by mayors is an important element in setting the culture of local governments. For instance, the city of Seoul holds an annual meeting on human rights policy with the mayor. Mayors may also develop a culture of peace; the Mayors for Peace network 23 has an action plan for 2017–2020 that aims to achieve peace and sustainable development by developing safe and resilient cities and eliminating nuclear weapons. 24 21. Collecting data about the situation in municipalities is crucial to sound policymaking for human rights protection. Costa Rica addressed a digital survey to all municipal authorities in connection with the present report. According to the analysis of the data provided by municipalities, some room for improvement remains, as only two municipalities had human rights policies. 22. Cooperation with national human rights institutions can help local governments to promote and protect human rights. In Côte d’Ivoire, cooperation between local governments and the national human rights commission helps to deliver programmes to realize the right to education, to counter gender-based violence and to promote women’s rights. The five regional offices of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea meet with local governing bodies to discuss human rights. The information-sharing and coordination function performed by national human rights institutions can be a very useful resource for local governments.25 23. Ombudspersons handle complaints and may conduct monitoring visits. These two functions can be useful ways to foster cooperation between local government and local stakeholders. At the national level, in Mali, the Office of the Ombudsman receives complaints concerning, inter alia, the functioning of state administrations and local authorities.26 In Ukraine, the visits conducted by the Ombudsperson to local governments have resulted in new programmes on social protection and medical care. Complaints may also be handled at the local or regional level; for example, the regional offices of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea handle complaints and document-related statistics.27 Barcelona also provides local ombudspersons. 28 24. Local governments can take actions to seek remedies for victims. The enactment in 2012 by the Aceh Provincial Government in Indonesia of Local Regulation (Qanun) No. 17/2013 led to the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission mandated to disclose the truth behind the human rights abuses committed in Aceh, and to make recommendations for effective remedies to victims. 29 25. Human rights education and training for public servants at the local government level is crucially important. In Egypt, human rights training is provided for public officials working in local administrative units within Egyptian governorates. Senegal offers training to local elected officials that emphasizes the need for leadership on anti-discrimination measures and equal treatment. In Mexico, the state of Coahuila de Zaragoza trains law enforcement officials on the human rights of migrants, and civil protection personnel on protecting persons with disabilities in vulnerable situations. Amsterdam, Budapest and Vienna also reported training activities, as did the National Human Rights Commission of 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 6 www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/. Submission by the city of Grigny (France). Submission by the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy of the Northeastern University School of Law and the Columbia Human Rights Institute. www.aomf-ombudsmans-francophonie.org/mali-mediateur-de-la-republique-du-mali/. Submissions by the Republic of Korea and Gwangju. See www.righttothecityplatform.org.br/download/publicacoes/what-R2C_digital-1.pdf, p. 21. See https://asia-ajar.org/2017/11/press-release-first-year-anniversary-aceh-trc/. Submission by International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development.