A/HRC/28/30 sharing best practices and responding to early warning signs, the ratification of international human rights instruments, human rights-compliant legislation and the dissemination of a human rights culture were some of the prevention tools mentioned by delegations. 30. One delegation expressed the hope that the panel discussion would be a stepping stone towards the creation of prevention mechanisms urgently needed in many parts of the world today witnessing grave human rights violations. Another delegation believed that strengthening existing mechanisms was necessary, including to avoid misuse of biased allegations of human rights violations, in particular in the field of the rights of ethnic and national minorities, as a pretext for military intervention. Another supported the call for strengthening existing prevention mechanisms and ensuring that preventing genocide and other massive abuses of human rights was a priority above all other political and economic interests. 31. Some delegations stated that the concept of prevention was not clear and needed to be defined in more explicit and measurable terms, and in a more nuanced and consensual manner. There was a need to engage in evidence-based research to understand all aspects of prevention and to develop tools, involving all stakeholders, in particular Member States. They warned that the development of such tools should eschew politicization, “naming and shaming” and intrusive approaches by powerful or influential States, and should be based on the principles of universality and non-selectivity. It was stressed that a universal agreement taking into account the suggestions and concerns of all Member States was important, as it would help in the design of an acceptable mechanism for common and quick action and ensure effective implementation. An impartial and transparent assessment of all situations with accountability as the guiding norm for those involved in the analysis and execution was recommended. Mr. Thomson responded to States’ concerns about prevention being used as an international “naming and shaming” exercise by explaining that the intention was quite the opposite – to assess risk factors and causes in order to address them responsibly, and to find solutions with long-term effects on risk reduction. The purpose was also to bring different actors together to find solutions, for which openness was required. 32. Some delegations were of the view that there was a need to go beyond the theoretical and conceptual framework of prevention. Others highlighted that specific national contexts should be considered when designing preventive technical assistance; one delegation emphasized the need to ensure that assistance was relevant to local actors, using words, concepts and ideas that resonated locally. Another delegation added that a standardized approach to developing and exporting training packages or assistance had to be avoided. Another emphasized that the concept of prevention had to encompass all human rights, while yet another highlighted the importance of ensuring the protection of minority rights (including through the mainstreaming of minority rights in the United Nations system) with a view to preventing conflicts. B. Responsibility to prevent human rights violations 33. Delegations and panellists stressed the fact that the promotion and protection of human rights and, by extension, the prevention of human rights violations are primarily the responsibility of States. States were able to create an environment conducive to the prevention of human rights violations by, for example, adopting domestic legal and institutional frameworks and strengthening their implementation. Ms. Brett and Mr. Zerbini Ribeiro Leão pointed out that this national responsibility extended to Governments at all levels, and that interaction and cooperation between State institutions and different levels and branches of the Government were indispensable. Some delegations emphasized that it was imperative that all prevention efforts respect fully the sovereignty, independence and 10