A/HRC/42/19 81. During the period under review, the OHCHR Regional Office for South America conducted a training programme on the use of international protection mechanisms in Chile. As a result, several reports presented by civil society organizations in the framework of the third cycle of the universal periodic review of Chile included, for the first time, contributions from indigenous peoples. Furthermore, representatives of two organizations of indigenous peoples presented individual reports. 82. The OHCHR office in Tunisia provided capacity-building support to Amazigh civil society organizations on engaging with the United Nations human rights system. The country office also supported Amazigh civil society organizations in advocacy campaigns with the parliament for the implementation of a law on racial discrimination. The office emphasized that racial discrimination affects indigenous populations in the country, especially in the area of cultural rights, as noted by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its most recent review of Tunisia (CERD/C/TUN/CO/19). 83. During the period under review, from 18 June to 13 July 2018, the annual OHCHR indigenous fellowship programmes, the most comprehensive Geneva-based training initiative within the United Nations system specifically designed for indigenous peoples, was held in four linguistic components (English, Spanish, French and Russian). Thirty-five fellows (19 women and 16 men) from 29 countries and one senior fellow from Chihuahua, Mexico, participated in the meeting. For the Spanish and Russian linguistic components, the programme started with a preparatory course at Duesto University in Bilbao, Spain, and at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, respectively. 84. The indigenous fellowship programmes also represent an important opportunity for inter-agency collaboration and help to promote support for indigenous issues within the United Nations system, as they involve the participation of several United Nations agencies and programmes, including the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UN-Women and the World Intellectual Property Organization. 85. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples continued to be instrumental in ensuring that the voices of indigenous peoples were heard within the United Nations system. During the reporting period, the Fund supported 45 participants in the eighteenth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 45 participants in the twelfth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; 40 grants to the sessions of the human rights treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council and the universal periodic review; and 14 grants for participation in a consultation on possible further measures to enhance the participation of representatives and institutions of indigenous peoples in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them. The consultation was organized by the President of the General Assembly during the session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in April 2019. In addition to providing financial support for the participation of indigenous peoples in United Nations meetings, the Fund also builds capacity, ensures the constructive engagement of indigenous peoples in United Nations meetings and mechanisms and contributes to strengthening and supporting their work back at home. IV. Conclusions 86. During the reporting period, indigenous peoples in many parts of the world continued to face numerous significant challenges in claiming their human rights, as also highlighted by United Nations human rights mechanisms. In that context, OHCHR carried out a range of country, regional and international activities to facilitate constructive dialogue and engagement between indigenous peoples, national authorities, public officials and the private sector. 87. OHCHR supported the meaningful participation and empowerment of indigenous peoples, so that they could take an active part in decision-making. It played a key role in facilitating dialogue and bringing indigenous peoples and duty bearers together, promoting confidence-building and the effective participation of indigenous peoples in decisions that directly or indirectly affect their lifestyles, 13