A/71/301 7. National specialized bodies have the potential to promote policy change. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe has noted their potential to “enhance the reach and effectiveness of public policy making by assisting policy makers to include an equality dimension into all policies and programmes and by gathering information to underpin policy making”. 2 This potential can be realized through the provision of advice to legislative and executive authorities. The legal opinions, casework recommendations and research by these bodies are, in particular, important contributions to change. 8. The Special Rapporteur also believes that national specialized bodies and national action plans can be instruments of institutional change in organizations. For instance, national specialized bodies have contributed to enhancing the performance of organizations in the public and private sectors and have supported them in promoting equality, diversity and non-discrimination. There have also been several examples of national specialized bodies advising local authorities on how to enhance equality in their daily work. 9. This potential of national specialized bodies is also realized through the provision of advice to business and trade unions. The guidance and support services, survey work and the casework recommendations of these bodies have been fundamental to helping the evolution of non-discriminatory employment practices. Furthermore, national specialized bodies have the potential to enhance the wider institutional infrastructure promoting equality and combating discrimination. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe has also noted their potential to “achieve a multiplier effect from the resources they hold by supporting a range of stakeholder organizations to play roles in promoting equality and combating discrimination”. 2 10. The Special Rapporteur believes that engagement and partnership with civil society organizations working on issues of non-discrimination and equality is one example of good practices of national specialized bodies that need to be highlighted. 11. National specialized bodies face a number of obstacles when providing advice to different stakeholders. Lack of resources and, in some cases, limited stakeholder interest have also affected some bodies in the discharge of their mandates. 12. The Special Rapporteur believes that it is important that each State identify the challenges faced by these bodies and provide the support necessary for the work carried out by them. 13. Similarly, attention given to national action plans to supplement or strengthen existing national legislation and policy relating specifically to combating racism and xenophobia can further strengthen the role played by national specialized bodies. The Special Rapporteur believes that a review of the goals, strategies, tools and actions pursued by such bodies in carrying out their functions can maximize the impact of their work. Given that national action plans have been the focus of earlier discussions by previous mandate holders, through the scrutiny of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as in a comprehensive publication of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Developing National Action Plans against Racial Discrimination: A Practical Guide ,3 __________________ 2 3 4/21 Council of Europe, Opinion of the Commissioner for Human Rights on national structures for promoting equality, document CommDH(2011)2. United Nations publication, Sales No. E.13.XIV.3. 16-13565