A/HRC/10/46 page 15 encountered in these processes by NHRIs. On 19 May 2008, OHCHR, together with the Iberoamerican Federation of Ombudsman and the University of Alcalá organized a seminar on the role of national human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. 52. Human rights field presences also collaborated with other national partners, such as civil society, academic institutions and professional groups in the monitoring and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. For example, human rights field presences continued to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations through trainings on the monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights (Timor-Leste), facilitating a consultation process among representatives of indigenous peoples on the right to education for minorities (Colombia), the diffusion of a manual on monitoring economic, social and cultural rights (Timor-Leste), the development of a network of organizations at the local and national levels to promote economic, social and cultural rights and in particular the right to food and housing (Nepal), or the organization of workshops on States parties’ obligations related to economic, social and cultural rights (Mexico). 53. OHCHR also participated in the ESCR-Net Strategies meeting in Nairobi with 200 delegates from social movements as well as national and international civil society organizations from over 50 countries and all regions. The focus of the meeting was “Challenging poverty and inequality through human rights”. D. More synergy with United Nations human rights bodies 54. OHCHR continued to provide substantive and organizational support to the open-ended Working Group on an Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and related intersessional consultations. At its fifth session, held from 4-8 February and 31 March-4 April 2008, the Working Group agreed to transmit the draft optional protocol to the Human Rights Council for consideration, thus completing its mandate. The Human Rights Council adopted the Optional Protocol at its eighth session in June 2008 and transmitted the text to the General Assembly which, on 10 December 2008, adopted this new human rights instrument by consensus. OHCHR also supported the African Regional Consultation Meeting on the Optional Protocol, held in Cairo, 9-10 January 2008, and hosted by the Government of Egypt. The meeting followed on from similar regional consultation meetings held in Latin America (Mexico, 30-31 May 2006) and Europe (Finland, 27-28 July 2006) and examined experiences at national and regional levels relevant to a future optional protocol. 55. United Nations human rights field presences actively supported the mandates of the special procedures relevant to economic, social and cultural rights established by the Human Rights Council. For instance, the Human Rights Adviser in Ecuador prepared and supported the mission of the independent expert on extreme poverty and human rights and identified the priority topics related to the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights deserving the independent expert’s attention. In Mexico, the Office organized a dialogue between non-governmental organizations, academics and the Special Rapporteur on the right to health. It also assisted victims of violations of the rights to health, adequate housing and work to send communications to relevant special procedures of the Human Rights Council.