The information gathered for the IPU’s World Directory of Human Rights Bodies showed that there was a great variety of parliamentary human rights bodies with largely differing mandates, powers and working methods. The idea therefore arose to follow the example of national human rights institutions, and to bring together the members of parliamentary human rights committees so as to enable them on the one hand to share their experiences and learn from one another, and on the other hand to explore ways and means of enhancing cooperation with international and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as national human rights institutions and civil society in general. This idea took the form of a seminar, which was held from 15 - 17 March 2004 and brought together some 200 legislators from all parts of the world. This publication contains the texts of the presentations made by the participants of the seminar.