A/HRC/7/69 page 20 Governments in ensuring that international human rights norms are applied at national level, including by facilitating follow-up actions to the recommendations resulting from the international human rights system. Ensuring the independence and autonomy of NHRIs, pluralistic representation, as well as their interaction with a broad range of national and international stakeholders, is a priority. 82. The Secretary-General welcomes the increasingly important role of NHRIs in the work of OHCHR and the deepening of their partnership in connection with the implementation of the High Commissioner’s Plan of Action and OHCHR country engagement strategies. The more the United Nations system works closely with and through independent NHRIs, the greater are the chances of success and sustainability of good governance, rule of law and human rights efforts. Working with NHRIs clearly facilitates a stronger sense of national ownership with respect to United Nations human rights programmes. 83. With the support of OHCHR, NHRIs are also engaging more actively in the Human Rights Council, human rights treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders, directly or through the ICC representative in Geneva. In 2007, OHCHR responded to the increasing demand from Member States and stakeholders for in-depth expertise regarding NHRIs. The Secretary-General welcomes also that the accreditation process in the ICC has become more rigorous and more thorough in order to ensure independence and effectiveness of NHRIs in this important arena. 84. OHCHR is thus encouraged to continue to work on the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs and to enhance its relationship with NHRIs. National consultations and awareness-raising activities involving all major stakeholders, such as Government officials, members of parliament, civil society, and the media, are indispensable in this process. UNCTs should become major partners at the country level in these endeavours and they should increasingly develop partnerships with NHRIs, especially those compliant with the Paris Principles, in connection with programmes and activities in the areas of the rule of law, good governance and human rights. 85. OHCHR is working towards enhancing its support to and relationship with the ICC and its newly established Bureau as well as its accreditation procedure so that NHRIs can more effectively and independently contribute to ensuring that international human rights norms are translated into consistent national laws and practices. I count on OHCHR to provide rigorous secretariat support to the ICC in upholding the Paris Principles and ensure review of NHRI compliance. The importance of this process is witnessed by an increase in applications for accreditation, the rise in the number of A-status NHRIs, as well as in the access recognized for such institutions by international human rights mechanisms. 86. I finally encourage NHRIs to undertake activities for the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the theme of which is “Dignity and justice for all of us”.