Australian Journal o f Human Rights 118 1996 Conclusions The National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights meeting in Darwin, Australia, from 8 to 10 July 1996 concluded: That the promotion and protection of human rights is the responsibility of all elements of society and all those engaged in the defence of human rights should work in concert to secure their advancement, That national institutions work in close cooperation with non-government organisations and wherever possible with governments to ensure that human rights principles are fully implemented in effective and material ways, That, at the international level, regional cooperation is essential to ensure the effective promotion and protection o f human rights, and That to ensure effectiveness and credibility the status and responsibilities of national institutions should be consistent with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions adopted by the General Assembly that provide that national institutions should be independent, pluralistic and established wher­ ever possible by the Constitution or by legislation and in other ways to conform to the Principles. Recommendations National institutions attending the First Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop rec­ ommend: That the United Nations formally recognise the unique status and character of independent national institutions and take appropriate measures to ensure that they participate in their own right in the work of United Nations human rights fora, That the United Nations facilitate the close cooperation between and periodic meetings of national institutions in the Asia-Pacific region as recommended in the Manila Declaration, including by ensuring that necessary funds are commit­ ted for those purposes, That the High Commissioner for Human Rights continue his efforts to promote the acceptance of and adherence to international standards and request that he give particular attention to supporting in the Asia-Pacific region the creation and strengthening of independent national institutions that conform to the Principles relating to the status of national institutions, That all Members States in the region and existing institutions work to ensure that the status and responsibilities of national institutions are consistent with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions adopted by the General Assembly,