A/HRC/27/39 IV. Cooperation with and support to national human rights institutions by international and regional organizations 100. During the reporting period, OHCHR support towards the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in French-speaking countries, including Benin, the Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Senegal, was provided jointly or in cooperation with the International Organization of la Francophonie. 101. In early 2014, OHCHR and the International Organization of la Francophonie held discussions on their priorities for 2014 regarding the establishment or strengthening of NHRIs and, for that purpose, identified the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. V. Recommendations A. Recommendations to States 102. States are encouraged to establish a national human rights institution where none exists, and to strengthen the structures and independence of existing ones in order to enable the effective fulfilment of their mandate, taking into account the recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Accreditation and the advice provided by OHCHR. 103. States are encouraged to ensure that national human rights institutions are provided with a broad mandate to protect and promote all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, and are granted adequate powers of investigation into allegations of human rights violations, including an authorization to visit detention centres. 104. States must ensure that national human rights institutions are provided with adequate human and financial resources and enjoy the necessary autonomy to propose and manage their own budgets and recruit their own staff members. 105. Open, participatory and pluralistic processes are important when establishing or strengthening national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles, as well as in the selection and appointment of such institutions’ members and staff. 106. Members and staff of national human rights institutions should enjoy immunity while discharging their functions in good faith. 107. States are encouraged to implement the recommendations of national human rights institutions. 108. States are urged to ensure, through appropriate means, the continuation of efficient and high-quality assistance for the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions and the servicing of the International Coordinating Committee. 15