Regional Action Plan on Human Rights Defenders NATIONAL ACTION 7: Engage with the international human rights system • Report on violations against HRDs to international human rights machinery • Monitor implementation of recommendations of international bodies • Engage innovatively with UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders, especially the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders The international human rights system – notably the UN Human Rights Council, including its special procedures and Universal Periodic Review, and treaty-monitoring bodies – plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting the rights of HRDs. APF members will ensure they report to all relevant mechanisms on violations against HRDs. Ideally, NHRIs will include a separate section on violations against HRDs in all international reports, which will support the mainstreaming of the HRD narrative in the work of the international human rights machinery. Reporting will include following up on recommendations of international bodies, to ensure any concerns relating to the protection of defenders have been addressed satisfactorily by government. NHRIs play a crucial role in supporting dialogue with government and civil society on the implementation of recommendations, which must feature in reporting to the international human rights system. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on HRDs is also an important ally of NHRIs in their support for defenders. APF members will engage directly with the Special Rapporteur in cases where the national situation warrants. This may be in cases of violations against individual defenders, where the Special Rapporteur may be engaged in an advocacy role, for example in lobbying for the release of an arbitrarily detained defender. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur may also be engaged by APF members in support of other national programs on the rights of defenders generally. For instance, in the context of advocacy for national HRD protection legislation. The APF will support this national action through strengthening member capacity in engagement with the international human rights system, with a specific focus on special procedures of the HRC. 30