61 ANNEXES 6 PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FORUMS 6.1 OVERVIEW NHRIs play an important role in linking national governments and domestic legislation with the international human rights community and standards. The Paris Principles task NHRIs with promoting the harmonization of national legislation, regulations and practices with applicable international human rights instruments; encouraging ratification of or accession to such treaties; contributing to treaty reports to the UN and regional bodies; and co-operating with the UN, regional institutions and NHRIs in other countries.37 This provides opportunities for NHRIs to promote women’s rights and gender equality in their interactions with the Human Rights Council and its procedures and mechanisms, and when monitoring their states’ commitments under the Millennium Development Goals 37 UN Principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights (the “Paris Principles”), Art. 3(iv)(b)-(e) SURVEY RESULTS 71% of NHRIs report they liaise with other institutions at the international level. 54% of NHRIs provide commentary for reports to treaty bodies. 51% of NHRIs promote the ratification of international human rights instruments. 37% of NHRIs provide independent reports to treaty bodies.