A/HRC/4/33 page 16 relies upon civil society and regional organizations, which are the experts closest to the issues and can often address them with greater speed and on a more systematic basis. Indeed antitorture instruments and mechanisms adopted and established by regional organizations - namely, the Organization of American States, the African Union and the Council of Europe - are often much more significant, timely and responsive, for example by means of judicial decisions, or systems for periodic monitoring. The Special Rapporteur points to the examples of regional mechanisms to monitor torture and ill-treatment, such as the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons deprived of their liberty of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights;17 the Special Rapporteur on prisons and conditions of detention in Africa;18 and the Follow-up Committee of the Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa (The Robben Island Guidelines) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights;19 and the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).20 51. In formal terms, the Special Rapporteur notes that in the early 1990s, particularly upon the establishment of CPT,21 the mandate of the Special Rapporteur was encouraged to make contacts with the Committee, initially “in the belief that the work of this Committee will make it possible to gain useful experience which may make it easier to determine whether such a system of periodic visits can also be envisaged in other regions or on a worldwide scale”.22 Then subsequently, the Commission regularly welcomed the exchange of views between the Special Rapporteur and the Committee.23 This language disappeared in subsequent resolutions from the mid-1990s, and no further express language related to cooperation with regional organizations has since been inserted. 17 Established in March 2004, pursuant to article 15 of the rules of procedure of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 18 Established pursuant to a resolution adopted at the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 31 October 1996. 19 The Robben Island Guidelines and the Follow-up Committee were established pursuant to the Resolution on Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa, adopted at the Thirty-second Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 23 October 2002. 20 Established under the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted in 1987. 21 CPT began its work on 13 November 1989. 22 Commission on Human Rights resolution 1990/34, para. 3. 23 Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1991/38, 1992/32, 1993/40 and 1994/37.