UNDP-OHCHR TOOLKIT status of implementation of the recommendations made following a country visit, for example through a questionnaire. NHRIs are also encouraged to regularly provide information to mandate-holders on the implementation of their recommendations (or lack thereof). NHRIs are encouraged to take relevant Special Procedures’ recommendations into account when submitting opinions, recommendations, proposals and reports to the Government, Parliament or other public body. NHRIs could organize follow-up seminars, either at the request of Special Procedures or at their own initiative, including all the human rights stakeholders as well as the Special Procedures mandate holder. NHRIs are encouraged to take relevant Special Procedures’ recommendations into account when preparing their work-plan and when assisting in the formulation of National Human Rights Action Plans and in other human rights related programming activities; 11 Communications: The Special Procedure can make use of an NHRI as (1) a reliable and available source of information; (2) a potentially good partner to verify the accurateness of information obtained from other sources; and (3) an effective intermediary to obtain information from third parties. In case of an anticipated or ongoing human rights violation, NHRIs can act as an important link for early warning and may bring such situations to the attention of the Special Procedure for their action. Because of their mandate regarding existing or draft legislation, NHRIs are optimally placed to flag relevant (draft) laws to the Special Procedure, who may act upon this information; 11 Protection capacity: Whenever an NHRI is under threat, relevant Special Procedures could act to protect it through communications or other measures. Special Procedures could make effective use of regional networks of NHRIs to mobilise public opinion to address particular human rights issues; 11 Thematic studies: NHRIs could bring a specific situation to the attention of the relevant Special Procedure and suggest specific issues be the subject of, or be included in a thematic study. NHRIs can also be approached with a further request for information or the dissemination of a questionnaire among the national contacts of the NHRI for the preparation of thematic studies. NHRIs can organize thematic conferences or seminars and invite the relevant Special Procedure mandate holders to attend. Thematic studies should be more systematically 42 shared with NHRIs, so that their conclusions may be taken into account by NHRIs when formulating legislative proposals; and 11 International meetings: Those NHRIs which are in compliance with the Paris Principles (having received an A-status by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) could attend sessions of the Human Rights Council and make an oral statement during the interactive dialogue after the presentation by the relevant Special Procedure mandate holder. 3.6.3 The Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review NHRIs with “A status” ICC accreditation, the ICC and regional coordinating bodies of NHRIs (speaking on behalf of its “A status members”) can: 11 make an oral statement under all agenda items of the Human Rights Council; 11 submit documents, which will be issued with its own symbol number; and 11 take separate seating in all sessions NHRIs that comply with the Paris Principles can participate independently and in their own right in UN Human Rights Council and in certain other UN bodies and meetings. A review of the human rights records of each of the 192 UN Member States is carried out by the Human Rights Council in a four-year cycle. This is known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in its country and to fulfil its human rights obligations.  The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is a key element of the Council, and requires States to report on measures they have taken to implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. The Human Rights Council is the principal intergovernmental body of the United Nations dealing with human rights made up of 47 States. UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council. Source: OHCHR. Universal Periodic Review http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx