A/HRC/7/29 page 7 16. The third thread of activities referred to interaction with civil society. Throughout the year, the Committee received comments and inputs and engaged in fruitful discussions with several non-governmental organizations on issues of common interest, including the institution-building process. 17. The outgoing Chairperson outlined a number of challenges which the participants in the annual meeting and the new Committee would have to address, such as issues arising from the institution-building process, including implementation of the Code of Conduct; the revision and finalization of the special procedures manual; the facilitation of an increasing number of joint activities; the analysis of protection gaps; and the definition of the role and functions of the Coordination Committee in the new framework. IV. INSTITUTION-BUILDING PROCESS 18. Participants had an opportunity to meet with the High Commissioner, the Deputy High Commissioner, the former President of the Human Rights Council and the former facilitator of the Working Group of the Council on UPR to discuss issues arising from the institution-building process. A. Exchange with the Deputy High Commissioner 19. The Deputy High Commissioner conveyed her appreciation to all participants for their work and stated that the interactive dialogues that she had attended at the fourth and fifth sessions of the Council demonstrated the deep commitment of mandate-holders to the protection and promotion of human rights. 20. The Deputy High Commissioner welcomed the increasing cooperation among mandate-holders and referred to some of the joint activities by special procedures in the past year, including the work of the expert group on Darfur, mandated by the Council. She also stated that she had followed with great interest the participation of mandate-holders, including through the Coordination Committee, in the institution-building process, and had appreciated their important contribution to discussions. She encouraged participants to focus their discussions on the way forward and on how to continue to strengthen and improve the special procedures system for more effective protection of human rights. She stressed that the Code of Conduct could be a tool to build greater trust with stakeholders and strengthen the system. 21. The Deputy High Commissioner reiterated that she intended to maintain a constant dialogue with special procedures. 22. The desirability of foreseeing an in-depth discussion on how special procedures might need to adjust their methods of work as the Council evolved was raised. 23. The Deputy High Commissioner noted the appreciation expressed for the work of OHCHR and reassured mandate-holders that OHCHR would do its best to efficiently respond to remaining administrative challenges. 24. Participants discussed the agreement on institution-building reached by the Council, including the Code of Conduct for special procedures.