Participating States submitted a number of good practices regarding listening to, and addressing the concerns of, human rights defenders. Organizing meetings with human rights defenders Officials at all levels of government should regularly consult with defenders to ensure that their concerns are heard. The Moldovan parliament, for example, organizes annual meetings with civil-society representatives to discuss co-operation between parliament and civil society.192 Setting up standing mechanisms for dialogue with human rights defenders Governments can engage in ad hoc dialogue with defenders, which often proves very useful. The effectiveness of co-operation can often be enhanced by creating standing mechanisms, such as joint committees or advisory boards at various levels to ensure ongoing dialogue across the spectrum of human rights. The German Institute for Human Rights, for example, regularly hosts meetings where there is an active exchange of views between defenders and government. The German government also engages in regular dialogue with the German Human Rights Forum, an amalgamation of the most important NGOs dealing with human rights.193 The French National Consultative Commission for Human Rights provides a formal forum for dialogue between the government and human rights groups where defenders can express their concerns regarding the government’ s domestic policies and practices on human rights issues. It is an institution attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, composed of members of civil society, academics, and representatives of international organizations and public institutions.194 Through such co-operation, organizations can also advise the government on its foreign policy. This may allow governments to become better informed as to the situation of human rights abroad and to calibrate their policies accordingly. Finland: Example of Setting Up Standing Mechanisms for Dialogue with Defenders195 In Finland, there is a regular formal forum for dialogue between the government and human rights defenders. Within the Foreign Ministry, there is an advisory board on human rights, which includes representatives of human rights NGOs. Active since 1988, the board meets regularly and provides a channel for communication between the ministry and NGOs. Adopting a government strategy for co-operation with human rights defenders Governments can also develop a national strategy for co-operation with human rights defenders. Such a strategy can allow a government to co-ordinate its engagement with further strengthening modalities for contacts and exchanges of views between NGOs and relevant national authorities and governmental institutions.” 192 Information provided by the OSCE Mission to Moldova, 16 May 2008. Finland’ s parliamentary ombudsman has, for several years, been organizing meetings with Finnish organizations of human rights defenders to share information and to discuss topical human rights related questions in Finland. Information provided by Finland’ s parliamentary ombudsman, 9 October 2008. 193 Germany’ s response to ODIHR’ s questionnaire, 30 May 2008. 194 Information provided by the mediator of the French Republic, 18 June 2008. 195 Finland’ s response to ODIHR’ s questionnaire, 1 June 2008. 43