A/HRC/19/60 consultation, by which the Government set a positive example of transparency and dialogue with civil society. 6. At the regional level, on 15 March 2011, the Special Rapporteur met with members of the European Commission and the Human Rights Working Group of the Council of the European Union in Brussels. Furthermore, on 26 May 2011, the Special Rapporteur was invited by the European Parliament‟s Subcommittee on Human Rights for a hearing on freedom of religion or belief. On 7 December 2011, the Special Rapporteur attended a briefing with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance in Strasbourg. 7. At the international level, on 12 December 2011, the Special Rapporteur attended a two-day meeting in Washington entitled the “Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief”. It focused on concrete and positive measures that States can take to combat religious intolerance in the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief. B. Identification of existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and presentation of recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles 8. The Special Rapporteur has held public or bilateral meetings with representatives of States and civil society organizations to discuss existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. He met with numerous members of religious or belief communities and held public briefings with them, including in Asunción, Barcelona, Baku, Berlin, Brussels, Cairo, Chisinau, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Oslo, Oxford, Santiago de Chile, Toronto and Vienna. 9. Country visits offer an important opportunity for Special Rapporteurs to interact with various State officials and to meet representatives of religious or belief communities and other members of civil society. In 2011, the Special Rapporteur undertook two country missions to Paraguay and the Republic of Moldova, respectively. The country reports on his visits to Paraguay (A/HRC/19/60/Add.1) and Moldova (A/HRC/19/60/Add.2) will be submitted to the Council at its nineteenth session. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank both States for the excellent cooperation they extended during his respective missions. He hopes that the recommendations issued following the country visits will contribute to overcoming existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief in the concerned countries. 10. Further country visits are currently being scheduled, and updated information about the Special Rapporteur‟s visit requests and forthcoming missions is available on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1 11. Since follow-up is of central importance to the mandate, the Special Rapporteur has continued his predecessors‟ follow-up procedure concerning country visit reports. On 30 November 2011, he sent follow-up letters concerning those missions undertaken by the previous mandate holder in 2009, i.e. to the Lao People‟s Democratic Republic, to Serbia, including visit to Kosovo, and to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Special Rapporteur requested to be provided with updated information on the consideration given to his predecessor‟s recommendations, the steps taken to implement them, and any constraints which may prevent their implementation. The follow-up tables with the 1 See http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/visits.htm. 5