Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan's working visit to Brussels started on September 22. Within the framework of the visit, the Defender met with the director of the Belgian Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, Martien Schottsmans. HRD informs that during the meeting, the existing problems in the field of guaranteeing the independence of national human rights institutions, the issues of improving the structures of effective activities, as well as two countries were discussed. Possibilities of development of cooperation between institutions. It was emphasized that guarantees of independence and effective functioning of national human rights institutions should be present both at the legislative level and in practice, and threats to the independence of human rights institutions Outdated legislation and practice should be excluded. The parties emphasized the strengthening of professional relations between the national human rights protection institutions and the continuous exchange of best practices.