A/HRC/34/23 47. The four regional consultations had led to recommendations to, inter alia, help victims access human rights systems, reinforce the protection measures taken by human rights mechanisms for human rights defenders, strengthen the role of civil society organizations in submitting amicus curiae and bringing cases before regional human rights courts and focus on common topics of interest, such as the rights of women and minority groups, gender identity and sexual orientation and the rights of children. 48. Workshop participants agreed on the importance of implementing the recommendations made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in his report entitled “Practical recommendations for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society, based on good practices and lessons learned” (A/HRC/32/20). In that report, regional and international entities were called on to provide for the participation of civil society on a non-discriminatory basis and expand the transparency of human rights mechanisms by, for instance, webcasting public meetings. The ingredients essential to optimizing civil society’s transformative potential included a robust legal framework compliant with international standards that safeguarded public freedoms and effective access to justice, a political environment conducive to civil society work, access to information, avenues for civil society in decision-making processes and long-term support and resources for civil society. 49. Participants suggested that civil society should contribute to the assessment of the follow-up to the recommendations of the universal periodic review and be involved in the preparation of national reports for that process and national human rights action plans. 50. It was further suggested that civil society should participate in the preparation of the report on the procedures and practices in respect of its involvement with regional and international organizations, requested in Human Rights Council resolution 32/31. 51. Participants recommended that civil society promote strategic management of resources and expectations when engaging with international human rights bodies and mechanisms. 52. Civil society was also called on to engage with the third cycle of the universal periodic review by monitoring the implementation of recommendations and engaging with State institutions, raising awareness among the public of the universal periodic review and engaging with national human rights institutions and other actors to promote the implementation of the recommendations made during the process. 53. Accessibility for persons with disabilities and gender balance were highlighted as two key requirements for United Nations and regional mechanisms. 54. All mechanisms and civil society actors were encouraged to participate in the 2020 review of the treaty body system. B. Cooperation in relation to promoting women’s rights 55. The members of a panel addressing cooperation in connection with women’s rights discussed the risks faced by women human rights defenders in their daily work. A panellist from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women elaborated on the role NGOs played in the individual complaint and inquiry procedures. Experiences were also shared on their participation in the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). 8