A/56/253 149. Cooperation with the specialized agencies has essentially been developed with those agencies that are more or less directly concerned with the mandate on the freedom of religion and belief. As explained in the chapters on inter-religious dialogue (see section III.B) and the international consultative conference on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief, tolerance and nondiscrimination (see section III.A), UNESCO is a real partner in so far as it plays a significant role with regard to religions. The Special Rapporteur also benefits from the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Information Centres in the preparation and conduct of in situ visits (both with regard to logistics and the exchange of information on the country’s human rights situation). 150. With a view to achieving deeper cooperation and better mutual understanding and to promoting the exchange of expertise, the Special Rapporteur decided to invite to the Madrid conference United Nations human rights mechanisms (such as those relating to special procedures, treaty monitoring bodies and national human rights institutions), as well as United Nations specialized agencies concerned with questions of education and freedom of religion or belief. C. Cooperation with non-governmental organizations 151. The Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize the essential role of nongovernmental organizations, which have continued their efforts, devoted initially to the elaboration and adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, to promote observance of that Declaration, making an invaluable contribution to the fulfilment of the mandate relating to freedom of religion and belief. 152. The General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights have applauded this contribution in their respective resolutions (55/97 and 2001/42), and have welcomed and encouraged the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation of the Declaration, to foster freedom of religion and belief and to highlight cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution. 153. Those non-governmental organizations, some of which represent a religion or a belief, while others have a general mandate relating to human rights or a specific mandate relating to freedom of religion or belief, play a dynamic role both as regards day-to-day information management and as regards the preparation and realization of in situ visits and the progress made in the fulfilment of the mandate. 154. Their collaboration is both institutional, through the Committee on NonGovernmental Organizations at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, with regard specifically to the mandate relating to freedom of religion or belief, and informal, through ad hoc consultations. 155. The non-governmental organizations are also especially active in providing support for bolstering the human and financial resources allocated to the mandate. In August 1998, for example, the Oslo Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief was organized on the initiative of non-governmental organizations for the specific purpose of supporting the cause of freedom of religion or belief. 41