A/RES/65/130 by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies, 4 3F Noting also the contribution of the Council of Europe to the universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council of the situation of human rights in States members of the Council of Europe, Noting further the continued attention of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the ongoing reform process of the United Nations, and following with interest the reform process within the Council of Europe initiated by its present Secretary-General, Welcoming the increasingly close relations between the United Nations and the Council of Europe and the opening of the Council of Europe Office in Geneva, which acts as the Permanent Delegation of the Council of Europe to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Geneva, as well as the decision of the Council of Europe to open an Office in Vienna, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe, 5 4F 1. Reiterates its call for the reinforcement of cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, the prevention of torture, the fight against trafficking in human beings, the fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, the fight against impunity for human rights violations, the promotion of gender equality and the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; Confirms its recognition of the important role of the European Court of 2. Human Rights in ensuring effective human rights protection under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms2 for the eight hundred million individuals in the forty-seven States members of the Council of Europe, and notes with interest the February 2010 Council of Europe Interlaken Declaration and Action Plan to reform the European Court of Human Rights aimed at ensuring the longer-term effectiveness of this judicial mechanism and the ongoing work aiming at accession of the European Union to the Convention; Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations, including 3. the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and the Council of Europe, including its Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding promoting respect for human rights, and in this context, welcomes the holding of the regional consultation organized in Strasbourg, France, on 16 and 17 December 2009 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in cooperation with the Council of Europe on enhancing cooperation between the international human rights system and the European human rights mechanisms; Also encourages further cooperation, where appropriate, between the 4. United Nations and the Council of Europe through their mechanisms regarding the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; _______________ 4 5 2 A/64/372. See A/65/382-S/2010/490, sect. II.

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