A/HRC/4/91 page 6 10. To date, ICC has accredited 60 NHRIs deemed by it to be in compliance with the Paris Principles, with the number increasing annually (1999: 15; 2000: 26; 2001: 32; 2002: 40; 2003: 45; 2004: 50; 2005: 51). The NI Unit, as secretariat of ICC, has worked closely with ICC to strengthen its accreditation procedures and will assist in undertaking a systematic and thorough review of the accreditation status of the accredited NHRIs to ascertain their conformity with the Paris Principles (see A/HRC/4/92). 2. Eighth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions 11. OHCHR, the Defensoría del Pueblo de Bolivia and ICC organized the Eighth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, from 23 to 27 October 2006. The theme of the conference, in which over 140 participants took part, was “Migration: The Role of NHRIs”. The Conference was hosted by the Defensoría del Pueblo de Bolivia. 12. The purpose of the Conference was to develop and strengthen cooperation between NHRIs with regard to migration as a human rights issue; promote the adoption of strategies with regard to migration and human rights; establish guidelines for NHRIs in dealing with migrant issues; and adopt a forward-looking declaration on the role of NHRIs in dealing with migration and human rights. 13. The Conference began with an NGO Forum, at which some 50 international, regional and national NGOs discussed strategic partnerships between NHRIs and NGOs in dealing with migration. Their conclusions fed into the main part of the Conference, where participants from 68 countries discussed how best to ensure and implement mechanisms for the protection of migrants’ rights. Participants outlined their commitment to increase the positive aspects of migration and better address its negative consequences through the adoption of a human rights-based approach to migration highlighted in the Santa Cruz Declaration and Guidelines adopted by the Conference (see annex for full text). 14. In order to implement the Declaration, NHRIs agreed to establish a working group at the next session of ICC; develop and implement within their institutions a strategy to address migration; and develop plans of action among NHRIs of relevant sending, transit and receiving States in cooperation with partners, including civil society. They also agreed to request OHCHR to prepare a study which could also include NHRIs’ best practices in relation to migration; to encourage their States to support the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; and call for ratification, and implementation, of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. NHRIs furthermore agreed to report back to the next session of ICC on concrete measures taken in this regard. 3. United Nations bodies Human Rights Council 15. To date, NHRIs accredited by ICC as being in compliance with the Paris Principles may participate and address the Council in an independent capacity. In addition, the International