Annual Report 2008-2009 Conference of Chairpersons, Secretaries of State Human Rights Commissions, Public Functionaries and NGOs 9.11 In order to have an interaction with Ms. Navanethen Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a half-a-day Conference of Chairpersons, Secretaries of State Human Rights Commissions, Public Functionaries and NGOs was organized by NHRC on 23 March 2009. On this occasion, Ms. Pillay said that the strength of India’s democratic and legal institutions, as well as that of a highly engaged civil society and a free press, rests on solid foundations. India must be proud of its national protection system, which includes the National Human Rights Commission. Ms. Pillay said that the National Human Rights Commission of India enjoyed a very good reputation in the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and this was one of the motives for her visit. She suggested that the National Human Rights Institutions in the region should work together on common human rights issues such as gender and poverty and share best practices. Exchanges and Other Interactions 9.12 The following individuals/delegations visited the Commission in 2008-2009. i) Two staff members of the Indonesian National Commission for Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM) – 28 April to 12 May 2008. ii) A four-member delegation led by Mr. Paulo Vannuchi, Minister of Human Rights, Brazil – 16 October 2008. iii) A delegation of Swedish Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Relations – 13 January 2009. iv) Officials of the Embassy of United States of America at New Delhi – 15 January 2009. v) Dr. Richard Bennett, Representative of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Nepal – 16 January 2009. vi) Prof. John G. Ruggie, UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights along with his Special Advisor, Mr. Gerald Pachoud – 4 February 2009. vii) Dr. David Bayley, Criminologist and Police Scholar, Criminal Justice University at Albania, USA – 13 February 2009. viii) Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – 23 March 2009. 115