A/RES/56/158 recognizing the value of such approaches in promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting with satisfaction the constructive participation of representatives of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in, and their positive contribution to, the deliberations of the World Conference on Human Rights, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as international seminars and workshops on human rights organized or sponsored by the United Nations, Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions and between national human rights institutions and other regional human rights forums, Welcoming also the strengthening of international cooperation among national human rights institutions, including through the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General; 3 2. Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993; 3. Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, 1 it is the right of each State to choose the framework for the national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 4. Encourages Member States to establish or, where they already exist, to strengthen national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; 5. Welcomes the growing number of States establishing or considering the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; 6. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international instruments; 7. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of those States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 8. Reaffirms the role of national institutions, where they exist, as appropriate agencies, inter alia, for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities, including those of the United Nations, in _______________ 3 2 A/56/255.