A/HRC/7/61 page 9 tenth anniversary, making a presentation on “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: A legislative and policy framework for victim assistance”. On 26 and 27 April, OHCHR made presentations to the Meeting of the Standing Committees to the Land Mine Convention focusing on the link between the Convention and the victim assistance provisions of that Convention. 18. OHCHR has also sought to strengthen partnerships with civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. On 6 September 2007 in Seoul, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights gave the keynote address at the World Assembly of Disabled Peoples International (DPI), entitled “Partnerships of the United Nations and disabled persons organizations for disability and human rights”. At the same event OHCHR participated in a town hall meeting on national human rights institutions and the rights of persons with disabilities as well as a panel on international monitoring of the Convention. 19. In August 2007, OHCHR sent out a questionnaire to disabled persons’ organizations with a view to strengthening partnerships with these organizations and in seeking information on needs and expectations from the Office. On the basis of responses, OHCHR will update its civil society handbook “Working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights” with information of relevance to persons with disabilities and their representative organizations. OHCHR participated in the Arab-African Conference on disabilities organized by Rehabilitation International (RI) in Djerba, Tunisia, on 24 and 25 October 2007. OHCHR made a presentation on “Examples of good practices relating to the implementation of rights of persons with disabilities”. II. CONCLUSIONS 20. The current reporting year has seen a continuation of the strengthening of OHCHR’s work on human rights and disabilities. The opening for signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol has seen a move from a focus on support for standard-setting to promotion of ratification and implementation of standards. While the Convention and its Optional Protocol have not yet come into force, OHCHR has promoted a policy of strengthening technical assistance and promoting partnerships with United Nations agencies and departments so that the Office is prepared for the entry into force of both instruments. The formation of a joint secretariat for the Convention with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat has provided an opportunity to maximize strengths across United Nations departments. The holding of the first session of the Inter-Agency Support Group on the Convention has provided an opportunity to ensure the United Nations and the World Bank work jointly on implementation issues. 21. Strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations has also been important in accordance with the principle of participation identified in the Convention. In the area of country engagement, there has been a very significant increase in work on human rights and disability since the adoption of the Convention. OHCHR has also sought to improve understanding and to raise awareness of the Convention, in particular through the publication of handbooks and materials and support for the elaboration of training materials. While OHCHR has sought to establish specific projects on human rights and disability, it has also adopted a twin-track approach aimed at mainstreaming the rights of