A/HRC/7/69 page 19 Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Jordan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Slovakia, Spain and Uzbekistan participated in the first turn of the survey. The first results of the survey were very much appreciated by the Sub-Committee on Prevention and other actors. 78. In March 2007, a thematic dialogue was organized by OHCHR on the role of NHRIs and torture prevention, in order to explore opportunities for NHRIs to operate as a national preventive mechanism under the OPCAT. B. Transitional justice 79. From 23 to 25 November 2007 a round table of NHRIs on transitional justice was organized by OHCHR in Cape Town, in close cooperation with the OHCHR Regional Representative for Southern Africa and the South African Human Rights Commission. It brought together NHRIs with either relevant experience or potential interest in transitional justice issues (i.e. Algeria, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Guatemala, Morocco, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste) to discuss how NHRIs can best perform their institutional role of human rights guarantor during transitional phases. The round table focused on the role of NHRIs in peace processes, their interaction with judicial (e.g. truth-seeking mechanisms, individual and collective reparations, vetting) and non-judicial mechanisms of transitional justice (international, regional, national and hybrid courts) as well as on challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in promoting justice, accountability and peace. Representatives of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa, the African Secretariat of NHRIs, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Centre for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and representatives of South African civil society also participated in the round table, which resulted in the elaboration of draft strategies for NHRI engagement in transitional justice. C. Role of NHRIs in United Nations human rights mechanisms 80. On 15 November 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea organized an international seminar in Seoul entitled “the Role of NHRIs in the Newly Established UN Human Rights Mechanisms”. Discussions focused on the increasing role of NHRIs in the Human Rights Council; NHRIs and the UPR; NHRIs and the Advisory Committee; NHRIs and special procedures; and the treaty bodies and the role of NHRIs. OHCHR was represented by a delegation and made a substantive contribution. The seminar provided an opportunity for participants to share their expertise with the aim to build the capacity of NHRIs. It highlighted many issues to strengthen the participation of NHRIs in the international human rights system. Finally, participants agreed on the need for NHRIs to stay informed and to develop strategic action plans for engagement with such mechanisms. V. CONCLUSIONS 81. NHRIs compliant with the Paris Principles are key elements of strong and effective national human rights protection systems. They can also be important partners in the international human rights system, especially through the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders. In particular, they can support

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