A/HRC/17/41 20. In October 2010, in cooperation with a number of international organizations and civil society, ROCA supported a civil forum on the rule of law as a security guarantee in Bishkek. The event brought together high-level Government officials, political parties, NGOs, independent experts and international organizations to discuss a number of key developments in the country. These included delays in announcing the election results, and attacks in the south against defence lawyers representing the interests of ethnic Uzbek defendants in cases relating to the June 2010 violence. ROCA facilitated the participation of defence lawyers from the south in the forum. The event resulted in an open and public debate, through which the national authorities were presented with detailed accounts of fair trial concerns caused by the lack of security during trials relating to the June 2010 interethnic violence. 21. In November-December 2010, with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and civil society partners, ROCA supported a series of round tables to discuss with various stakeholders the draft national concept for ethnic development and society integration being developed by the Department for Ethnic and Religious Policy and Interaction with Civil Society under the Presidential Administration.2 ROCA specifically contributed to the discussions with expert advice and distributed materials on United Nations standards concerning the rights of national minorities. The regional office also funded a national expert who participated in the discussions and working group meetings where the draft concept was further elaborated. ROCA continues to support the development of the concept and, once it is adopted by Parliament, will assist with the implementation of the concept to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities. 22. On 13 December 2010, to mark Human Rights Day, ROCA held a round table where State officials, civil society and independent experts discussed human rights developments in 2010 and expressed their recommendations on key priorities for 2011. 23. On 15 December 2010, ROCA held a round table on the investigation of torture, which was attended by State officials, including police, judges and prosecutors, civil society groups working on the prevention of torture, lawyers, and independent experts. The round table focused on the need for a change in legislation and practices, which will be further discussed in future consultations in 2011. 24. ROCA played a key role in advocacy and raising awareness of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its implementation, and provided expert advice on the draft law on the national mechanism for the prevention of torture, through the engagement of a national legal consultant. The regional office continues to monitor ongoing legal reforms and other relevant Government programmes in order to ensure the provision of targeted human rights advice, including through its NGO partners. 25. In addition, ROCA is rendering technical assistance to the Ombudsman Institution within the framework of a joint United Nations technical assistance programme, which runs until December 2011. ROCA maintains regular contacts with the Ombudsman Institution with the aim of highlighting and discussing key human rights developments in the country. 2. Mission of the Office of the High Commissioner to Osh 26. The OHCHR mission to Osh was deployed as of July 2010, to monitor, document and report on the human rights situation, provide added protection through its presence and 2 6 See paras. 70 and 71 below for further details.