A/HRC/4/43 page 6 consultations with all mandate-holders; the Committee would as appropriate seek advice and assistance from other mandate-holders; the Committee should not be a substitute for bilateral consultations between mandate-holders and other institutions; the Committee should respect the independence of mandate-holders; and the Committee should circulate updates on its activities through e-mail. 16. In terms of the functions to be performed by the Coordination Committee, several proposals were made, including: the participation of the Committee in consultations regarding the review of mandates; bringing into the discussion with the Human Rights Council the concerns of mandate-holders, including the issue of cooperation with special procedures; advocating for more resources for special procedures in the context of the reform; identifying innovative ways to raise awareness about special procedures and their work; taking action in a proactive manner to ensure that the “rationalization” of mandates does not result in an erosion of the effectiveness of the system. III. THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES SYSTEM AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 17. Participants welcomed the fact that the timing of the thirteenth annual meeting coincided with the first session of the Human Rights Council. Participants were briefed by the Secretariat on latest developments at the Council. They were informed of existing proposals concerning the extension of mandates and the consideration of reports submitted by mandate-holders at the sixty-second session of the Commission. 18. Under this agenda item, participants discussed the relationship of the special procedures system with the Council, including in the context of the UPR and of the review of mandates. All mandate-holders unequivocally stressed the need to ensure that a system of special procedures is maintained and strengthened. Special procedures were indicated repeatedly as a fundamental pillar of the international human rights machinery. 19. The need to ensure that special procedures would be central to the UPR system while at the same time maintaining their autonomy and independence was strongly underscored. In this context, participants emphasized the role that the Coordination Committee should play as an interlocutor of the special procedures in their relations with the Human Rights Council. 20. Participants agreed to draft a statement to be read by the Chairperson during its interaction with the Council (see annex II). In the statement, participants welcomed the establishment of the Council as a window of opportunity to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights. They also welcomed General Assembly resolution 60/251 on the Human Rights Council, calling for the maintenance of a system of special procedures and expressed the wish to be actively involved with the process of review that will take place this year. 21. Mandate-holders requested the Council to directly and effectively interact with the special procedures by expeditiously examining the mission reports submitted by mandate-holders; responding swiftly to early warnings of impending egregious violations; providing, during its plenary sessions, for at least a one-hour interactive dialogue with each mandate-holder; effectively involving special procedures mandates-holders in early-warning