The work that is done by OHCHR each year for NHRIs is set out in annual reports of the Secretary-General to the Human Rights Council on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights.12 2. International conferences of the International Coordinating Committee Since the 1993 World Conference, the United Nations has supported regular international meetings and conferences of NHRIs.13 Each meeting has featured exchanges of information and discussions on special concerns, sometimes tied to specific themes. For a complete list of international conferences, themes and results, see www.nhri.net. 3. National human rights institutions, OHCHR and the international human rights system OHCHR is part of the United Nations Secretariat and leads the United Nations human rights programme. Since 1993, it has been headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and works with an ever-growing range of actors, not only Governments and NHRIs, but also civil society and business, to instil a broad commitment to human rights. OHCHR promotes and protects human rights established under the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. The High Commissioner works to mainstream human rights standards throughout all United Nations programmes to ensure that peace and security, development, and human rights—the three essential pillars of the United Nations system—are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and that human rights underpin all United Nations activities. Activities regarding NHRIs are carried out mainly through the National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms Section. The Section works with other parts of OHCHR, providing advice and assistance to establish and strengthen NHRIs through country and regional offices, human rights advisers and human rights components of United Nations peace missions, as well as through other United Nations partners (including UNDP) and the regional coordinating bodies of NHRIs.14 OHCHR offers technical cooperation programmes and tailored advice on constitutional or legislative frameworks regarding the establishment of NHRIs, as well as on their nature, functions, powers and responsibilities. In particular, it: ■■ Reviews draft legislation to establish NHRIs; ■■ Advises on compliance with the Paris Principles; ■■ Establishes guidance notes, methodological tools, best practices and lessons learned on NHRI-related issues; ■■ Provides secretariat support to the International Coordinating Committee, including its Sub-Committee on Accreditation; ■■ Facilitates partnerships between NHRIs and United Nations country teams (UNCTs) and country engagement by OHCHR; ■■ Supports effective interaction with the judiciary, parliament and NGOs; ■■ Supports partnerships of NHRIs with the international human rights system, including treaty bodies, special procedures and the Human Rights Council; See, for instance, the latest reports A/HRC/13/44 and A/HRC/13/45 on the International Coordinating Committee’s accreditation process and methods. 13 Tunis in December 1993; Manila in April 1995; Mexico City in November 1997; Rabat in April 2000; Copenhagen and Lund, Sweden, in April 2002; Seoul in September 2004; Santa Cruz, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), in October 2006; Nairobi in October 2008; Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in October 2010. 14 A/HRC/13/44. 12 8