A/HRC/27/30 human rights instruments and mechanisms more effectively. A total of 26 indigenous fellows1 participated in the training programme in Geneva in 17 June to 12 July 2013. The fellows received theoretical and practical training on how to use international human rights instruments and mechanisms to promote and protect the rights of their indigenous communities. 12. OHCHR in Geneva also hosted a “senior” indigenous fellow for a four-month on-thejob training in its Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section. In addition, four indigenous fellows, who were trained in Geneva, were given the opportunity to extend their knowledge through national fellowships in OHCHR field presences in the Russian Federation, Ecuador, Panama and South Africa. Their active involvement in and input to the activities of the Office were very much appreciated and their first-hand knowledge of indigenous issues was an asset in supporting the Office’s programmes on indigenous peoples’ issues. 2. United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples 13. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, which is managed by OHCHR with advice from a Board of Trustees, continued to support the participation of indigenous organizations in the sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Human Rights Council, the UPR mechanism and the treaty bodies. 14. In 2013, 66 grants were awarded for representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the sessions of the above-mentioned bodies as well as in the sessions of the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The extension of the mandate of the Fund to cover the sessions of these treat bodies has enabled indigenous peoples to engage actively in bring their issues and perspectives into the work of the human rights bodies, beyond those devoted to indigenous peoples’ issues. The insight and information that the Fund recipients brought to the discussions were welcomed by the members of the treaty body and others concerned. 15. The Fund organized and funded four human rights training modules in four languages, in Geneva and New York, to increase the capacity of indigenous peoples’ representatives to effectively participate in the human rights mechanisms. Moreover, in cooperation with NGO partners, the Fund provided assistance to indigenous peoples’ representatives in targeting their advocacy, making constructive interventions tailored to each United Nations event and contributing to the implementation of the recommendations made by human rights mechanisms and the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the national level. 16. In sessions from January to April 2014, the Board of Trustees selected 57 representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to attend the sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, held from March to September 2014. Furthermore, the Board set aside a budget to enable representatives of indigenous communities and organizations – to be selected at the inter-sessional meetings held in August and November 2014 – to attend the sessions of the 1 From Argentina, Australia, Belize, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, France (French Guiana), India, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Peru, the Russian Federation, Suriname and Uruguay. 5