A/HRC/27/39 State report was reviewed. OHCHR also organized capacity-building activities for the Ombudsman, including training programmes on international human rights standards, fair trials, adequate housing, the rights of minorities, the right to freedom of religion and the rights of women and children. 55. In June 2014, OHCHR held a seminar to share information and best practices with the staff of the newly established human rights institution of Turkey. 56. OHCHR extended technical support to the Ombudsman of Tajikistan for establishing a Working Group for Monitoring Places of Detention as a first step towards ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. A two-day training programme was also organized to impart knowledge to the members of the Working Group about the monitoring tools and the Istanbul Protocol, besides providing guidance in drafting their annual work plan for monitoring places of detention. 57. OHCHR, along with the Ombudsman institution of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, advocated for amendments to its founding law to bring it in full compliance with the Paris Principles. OHCHR is also supporting the Government to identify the shortcomings of the Law of the national Anti-Discrimination Commission to define the amendments required to align it with the Paris Principles, and ensure the effective functioning of the Commission. 58. Upon the invitation of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, OHCHR participated in the 12th International Baku Conference of Ombudsmen, in June 2014, and made a presentation on the role of national human rights institutions in the protection and promotion of women’s rights. OHCHR also conducted round tables on the role of such institutions for the staff of the Ombudsman’s Office and other stakeholders. 5. Middle East and North Africa 59. During the period under review, the OHCHR regional offices for the Middle East and North Africa, the OHCHR offices in Mauritania, Palestine and Tunisia, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya continued to provide advice and assistance, in consultation with the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section of OHCHR, in the establishment and/or strengthening of national human rights institutions in the Middle East and North Africa. Legal advice 60. OHCHR provided legal advice on the draft law to amend the decree establishing a national human rights institution in Bahrain, to ensure its compliance with the Paris Principles. Capacity-building activities 61. In 2013, in partnership with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), UNDP and the United Nations Office for Project Services, OHCHR engaged a human rights expert to help establish the secretariat of the High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq and to draft the Commission’s first annual report. A consultant was recruited to help with the design and roll-out of the website of the High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq’s website. UNAMI and OHCHR supported and facilitated the implementation of a new European Union-funded project for building the High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq’s capacity by establishing and participating in a steering committee to supervise the implementation of the project and provide policy guidance. In June 2013, OHCHR made a presentation on the Paris Principles and the relationship between national human rights institutions and parliaments to a delegation 9