A/HRC/34/23 undermine the independence and the impartiality of regional human rights mechanisms. 114. Participants recognized the critical role played by OHCHR in advancing cooperation between international and regional human rights mechanisms. They also noted that the ability of OHCHR to facilitate and coordinate cooperation, including through the focal point network, was affected by financial and human resource constraints. In that respect, the report to be produced by the Human Rights Council’s Advisory Committee on cooperation with regional mechanisms was viewed as a way to provide useful recommendations on building the capacity of OHCHR to coordinate cooperation activities. 115. The harmonization and application of human rights norms, including by constant inter-institutional dialogue, was viewed as crucial to the creation of universal human rights jurisprudence. 116. Participants noted that many civil society organizations faced reprisals for their engagement with regional and international human rights mechanisms. Intimidation, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance were mentioned as common practices. Some States had adopted counter-terrorism legislation that potentially stigmatized human rights defenders. Cooperation was critical to tackling those issues. 117. Cooperation between human rights mechanisms was identified as a way of using the resources of those mechanisms more efficiently. Emphasis was laid on the need to further develop joint activities and exchanges of information. V. Recommendations 118. Support should be provided to enable victims and specific vulnerable groups to gain access to the international and regional human rights system and mechanisms. States should comply with international and regional protection measures for human rights defenders. 119. The biennial workshops and annual meetings of the focal points on cooperation should continue. It was proposed that the next workshop be held in 2018 and the next meeting of the focal points on cooperation in 2017. 120. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms, under the auspices of OHCHR, should be strengthened. OHCHR should be provided with more human and financial resources to coordinate interaction between United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms and facilitate the work of the network of focal points. 121. The sharing of information by the United Nations human rights system and regional human rights mechanisms on decisions, recommendations, best practices, reports, calendars of activities, programmes of visits and other relevant matters should be continuous, consistent and systematically channelled through the OHCHR focal point coordinator. The alignment of processes and cross-referencing would result in more coherent/targeted decisions and recommendations. 122. Periodic teleconferences between focal points would enable the exchange of information and facilitate the planning of mutual activities. Focal points should be provided with adequate resources to effectively carry out their tasks. 123. OHCHR could consider creating a fellowship programme for members or staff of regional human rights mechanisms to increase their knowledge of United Nations human rights mechanisms. 17