A/HRC/14/32 37. SAARC has also adopted a legally binding instrument. However, its scope is not as broad as the CoE Convention, since it primarily focuses on judicial cooperation for the prosecution of traffickers, and to a lesser extent on the protection of victims. 38. The EU has also adopted a binding instrument to regulate its action to combat trafficking in persons, the 2002 Council Framework Decision on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, followed by an action-oriented paper. These instruments explicitly refer to the adoption of a human rights-based approach, where the rights of the victims are placed at the centre and where special attention is given to certain groups, such as women, children, members of minorities and indigenous peoples. The EU went a step further and ratified the Palermo Protocol as a regional economic integration organization. 39. Similarly, OSCE’s anti-trafficking work conducted by its Special Representative has always striven to incorporate an approach that is human rights-based, specifically genderand child-sensitive and non-discriminatory, taking as a starting point that trafficking is a grave violation of human rights and human dignity. 40. Finally, OAS has adopted a system whereby it hosts regular gatherings of the highest level national government officials responsible for combating human trafficking, through a political process called the “Meetings of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons”, the most recent of which was held in March 2009 in Argentina. Further to these meetings, the “Conclusions and Recommendations of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons” have been approved and shared with OAS member States. Plans of action and monitoring bodies 41. One of the added values of regional mechanisms is the adoption of a common workplan at the regional level, setting out common strategies and actions to be taken within a region. This has proved to be a key step to providing a sound platform on which States may shape their national policies. As opposed to formal agreements or declarations establishing regional mechanisms, which are more general, regional action plans include specific measures and strategies to guide States in developing their national strategies. Moreover, a common action plan promotes a unified vision to fight human trafficking within a region: on that basis, national strategies will be developed with similar approaches. Practically all existing regional mechanisms have developed their regional action plans. The Arab initiative for building national capacities to combat human trafficking is due to be launched at the end of March 2010. 42. Another key element appears to be the establishment of regional monitoring bodies to meet regularly and review the degree of implementation of normative instruments and related workplans. For example, SAARC established a Regional Task Force in 2006, which meets yearly to monitor and assess the implementation of the Convention. OSCE created the mandate of the Special Representative, who publishes annual reports providing an assessment of the Action Plan’s implementation, the activities conducted and the related achievements. The CoE has established a monitoring mechanism based on two pillars: the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), composed of independent experts, and a Committee of the Parties, a political body. GRETA reviews the implementation of the convention by the parties and publishes recommendations to the Committee of the Parties, which also makes recommendations on measures to be taken by parties to implement GRETA’s conclusions. 43. In addition, regional organizations have an essential role as catalysts and advisers in promoting the adoption of national plans of action (NPAs). In many instances, regional mechanisms have been able to guide States in the development of NPAs, also with the objective that countries of a same region would adopt similar national plans, in order to better cooperate and share information and experiences. For example, as a result of the CoE GE.10-13211 9