A/HRC/7/69 page 13 Government. The Conference aimed at supporting national and regional initiatives to strengthen the role of NHRIs and other actors in promoting the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in accordance with international human rights norms. It brought together representatives of NHRIs in the region, the judiciary, regional organizations including the League of Arab States, United Nations, experts in the administration of justice, as well as non-governmental organizations. The Conference adopted the “Rabat Declaration”, which outlines a concrete strategy for NHRI engagement in promoting the independence of the judiciary in the Arab region (see Annex VII). C. OHCHR support to international initiatives related to NHRIs 1. The International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) 47. As the secretariat of the ICC and its Sub-Committee on Accreditation, OHCHR provided substantive support to and facilitated the holding of the nineteenth session of the ICC in Geneva from 21 to 23 March 2007. On that occasion, discussions were held on the engagement of NHRIs with the Human Rights Council; the role of NHRIs in the United Nations treaty body process; follow-up to the 8th International Conference of NHRIs and the Santa Cruz Declaration; the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and plans for the 9th International Conference of NHRIs. The ICC also elected a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson (the NHRIs of Canada and the Republic of Korea, respectively). OHCHR also provided support to parallel events on the potential role of NHRIs in torture prevention; on interaction between parliamentarian human rights committees and NHRIs; and on cooperation between NGOs and NHRIs. 48. A presentation was given on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was highlighted that, according to article 33 (2) of the Convention, NHRIs have an explicit role to play. The ICC meeting also expressed support for the Disability Rights Database, developed initially in the Asia-Pacific region to gather and analyse information on how NHRIs handle complaints involving persons with disabilities. 49. Another important outcome of the ICC meeting was the unanimous support of ICC members for the proposal to establish a permanent ICC representation in Geneva, primarily in order for the ICC as well as individual NHRIs to make their voice heard at sessions of the Human Rights Council and treaty body meetings. ICC members also encouraged regional coordinating bodies of NHRIs to actively participate in the sessions of the Council, as is the case with A-status NHRIs and the ICC, in line with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/74, subject however to the strict procedures agreed upon at the session; i.e. they can speak on behalf of NHRIs with A-status accreditation only. 50. As agreed upon during the nineteenth session of the annual meeting of the ICC, an interim ICC representative was appointed who represented the ICC Chair and A-status NHRIs and spoke on their behalf at the sessions of the Human Rights Council and the human rights treaty bodies in the second half of 2007. Following consultations with the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), OHCHR facilitated the use by the ICC representative of an office space within the Palais des Nations, making easier the interaction between NHRIs and the international human rights system.