A/HRC/4/33 page 19 they had received thus far. In that respect, he noted with satisfaction recent efforts by the African Commission, above all the creation of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on prisons and conditions of detention in Africa, the adoption of the Robben Island Guidelines and the establishment of the Follow-Up Committee. Despite the extreme constraints in resources they faced - including financial, material and human resources - he commended the commissioners for their outstanding contributions to eradicating torture in Africa. He pledged his full cooperation and assistance in their work, including through holding regular exchanges on substantive issues and methods of work, participation in training and seminars, regular exchange of documentation, and giving consideration to carrying out joint missions to African countries. Conclusion 58. From a simple survey, the Special Rapporteur notes that in 2005 no fewer than 17 resolutions were adopted by the Commission on Human Rights that referred to cooperation with regional organizations on diverse human rights issues,24 including with respect to the activities of some special procedures mandate holders. The adoption of a specific resolution - 2005/73 - by the Commission on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights provides ample evidence that States recognize the importance of such cooperation. 59. The Special Rapporteur concurs fully with that resolution: regional arrangements play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights, and progress in promoting and protecting all human rights depends primarily on efforts made at the national and local levels. Only through the benefit of cooperation with regional human rights organizations can the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur expect to make a real contribution to the elimination of torture and ill-treatment. 24 For example, see resolutions on combating defamation of religions (2005/3); adverse effects of the illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes on the enjoyment of human rights (2005/15); the right to freedom of opinion and expression (2005/38); elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief (2005/40); elimination of violence against women (2005/41); rights of the child (2005/44); internally displaced persons (2005/46); human rights and mass exoduses (2005/48); development of public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights (2005/58); Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (2005/62); World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2005/64); human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises (2005/69); human rights and transitional justice (2005/70); regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights (2005/73); national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (2005/74); rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (2005/79); and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (2005/80).