A/HRC/4/75 page 4 outline of the purpose, content, obligations and monitoring mechanisms contained in the new Convention. The third section draws some conclusions and indicates some recommendations for possible action by the Council. I. ACTIVITIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DISABILITIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 5. Over 2006, OHCHR has continued to increase its work on human rights and disabilities. In keeping with the five action points outlined in the High Commissioner’s Plan of Action, those activities have sought to promote: more synergy in the relationship between OHCHR and the various United Nations human rights bodies; an enhanced leadership role for the High Commissioner; greater country engagement; closer partnerships with civil society and the United Nations agencies; and, strengthened management and planning for OHCHR. More synergy in the relationship between the Office of the High Commissioner and the various United Nations human rights bodies 6. Much of the work of the Office over the reporting period has focused in assisting the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly that drafted the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. To that end, the Office participated in the seventh and eighth sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee from 16 January to 3 February and from 14 to 25 August 2006 and 5 December 2006, respectively. At the seventh session, the Office organized a briefing and lunchtime panel on treaty body reform and provided a background paper on international monitoring. In September and October 2006, the Office participated in the Drafting Group established by the Ad Hoc Committee to ensure that the six language versions of the new Convention were technically consistent and coherent. The Office also participated in the process of adoption both at the resumed eighth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on 5 December as well as at the final adoption by the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, on 13 December 2006. 7. The Office has begun working with special procedures of the Human Rights Council to promote the rights of persons with disabilities within the context of their mandates. On 23 and 24 November, the Office hosted an expert seminar on “The right to education of persons with disabilities” to assist the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education in the preparation of his thematic report to be submitted to the Council at its fourth session (A/HRC/4/29). Similar activities are planned for 2007. An enhanced leadership role for the High Commissioner 8. The Plan of Action highlighted an enhanced leadership role for the High Commissioner through, amongst other things, greater interaction with relevant United Nations bodies. On 27 January 2006 as well as 5 December 2006, the High Commissioner addressed the Ad Hoc Committee. In her January statement, the High Commissioner encouraged the Ad Hoc Committee in its work, acknowledging that future implementation of the Convention would require resources while underlining the fact that resource constraints should not obscure the need to combat deeply rooted discrimination. In her December statement, the High Commissioner welcomed the adoption of the Convention, highlighting the way in which the negotiation process had already provided a catalyst for change within the United Nations, in