5 CO-OPERATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY 59 ODIHR Recommendations should develop mutually beneficial and, ideally, institutionalized rela→ NHRIs tionships with civil society organizations. This could include information sharing and establishment of referral mechanisms for victims of violence against women and gender-based discrimination. should raise awareness of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, → NHRIs and on the legitimate  and important role played by women human rights defenders in particular. Any attacks against human rights defenders should be condemned and appropriate measures taken. should consider the development of joint outreach campaigns or joint → NHRIs publications on women’s rights and gender equality, with a range of civil society actors. In planning such initiatives, it is important to ensure the genuine involvement of civil society actors from the early planning stages. relevant, NHRIs should facilitate specialized or general training for civil → Where society actors involved in particular areas of the protection and promotion of women’s rights and gender equality. Training of trainers for civil society may also multiply the impact of such programmes.