A/HRC/7/69 page 27 Conclusions The Forum, during its open plenary sessions: 6. Expressed appreciation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her message and for her leadership in supporting the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs. The Forum warmly welcomed the strengthened partnership with the OHCHR and looked forward to enhancing this relationship and its participation in the UN human rights system, especially the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. 7. Informed the conference of the outcomes of the Forum Councillor meeting held on 25th September 2007. The following decisions were highlighted: • The unanimous election of Mr John von Doussa QC, President of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (as the current host institution of the annual meeting) to the position of Chairperson of the Forum, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (as the host institution for the next annual meeting) and Professor Kyong-Whan Ahn, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (as the immediate past Chairperson of the Forum) to the two positions of Deputy Chairpersons; • Approval of the draft Rules of Procedure for (i) meetings of Forum Councillors; (ii) the Forum’s Annual General Meeting and (iii) the Forum’s Annual Conference, incorporating amendments that increased the proposed timeframes for submission of documents for Forum Councillors’ meetings under paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2; • Approval of the application for associate membership from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives; • The review of the associate membership of the Jordan National Centre for Human Rights. Forum Councillors congratulated the institution for the steps taken to comply with the Paris Principles and resolved to admit the institution as a full member of the Forum; • The review the candidate membership of the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste. Forum Councillors congratulated the Provedoria on the formation of a pluralistic advisory council and resolved to admit the institution as a full member of the Forum. As a result of these decisions, the Forum is now comprised of 14 full member institutions; and 3 associate member institutions; • Agreement to make a reference to the Advisory Council of Jurists on the corporate accountability and government responsibility for the activities of transnational corporations which affect human rights and requested the secretariat to develop draft terms of reference, including a term concerning the obligation to respect and protect the legitimate activities of human rights defenders, for the consideration and approval of Forum Councillors. Forum Councillors also approved the proposal for a review of the role and functions of the ACJ and welcomed the offer of the National Human Rights Commission of India to host a meeting for this purpose in February 2008;