UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/7/69 14 January 2008 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventh session Agenda item 2 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPORTS OF THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL Report of the Secretary-General on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights* Summary The present report, covering the period January to December 2007, contains information on activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to establish and strengthen national human rights institutions (NHRIs); measures taken by Governments and NHRIs in this regard; and cooperation between NHRIs and international mechanisms to promote and protect human rights. Information regarding the work of NHRIs in respect of specific thematic issues is also included. Documents dealing with the events noted in the present report may be found on the website relating to NHRIs (www.nhri.net). Additional information on initiatives and assistance provided to NHRIs may be found in the Secretary-General’s reports to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session (A/HRC/4/91) and to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session (A/62/287). * In order to comply with the General Assembly rules on page limitation, the annexes are being circulated as received and in the language of submission only. GE.08-10258 (E) 290108