INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Chapter - 9 Universal Periodic Review 9.1 It was reported in the Annual Report for the year 2007-2008 that based on the Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1, the Commission actively coordinated with the Government of India and played a key role in the preparation of India country paper. 9.2 The Commission had also submitted a separate brief paper on India for Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in January 2008. The NHRC India paper flagged important human rights challenges relating to right to education, right to health, right to food, rights of children, rights of persons with disabilities and corruption and human rights. While reviewing international human rights instruments, the Commission stressed the need to ratify the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention against Torture. NHRC, India Participation in International Meetings 9.3 A high-level delegation from NHRC-India, consisting of the Chairperson, SecretaryGeneral and Director (Research) visited and interacted with the Irish Human Rights Commission at Dublin on 11 April 2008, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission at Belfast on 12 April 2008 and the Commonwealth Secretariat at London on 14 April 2008. 9.4 A delegation from NHRC-India, comprising the Member, Secretary-General and Director (Research) visited Geneva from 14 to 18 April 2008 to participate in the 20th Session of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC). During the course of the session, NHRC-India was requested to maintain the website of NHRIs which it instantly accepted. The said website can be viewed at www.nhri.net or at www.nhri.nic.in . The inputs given by NHRC-India with regard to the accreditation process of the ICC of National Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights were acknowledged as well. The NHRC-India delegation also expressed its concern over lack of speaking rights for NHRIs in Working Group meetings for consideration of country reports under the Universal Periodic Review. 9.5 The Joint Secretary, NHRC attended the Plenary Session of Human Rights Council at Geneva in Switzerland from 9 to 11 June 2008. The Plenary Session pertained to the adoption 113