A/HRC/33/56 that the Expert Mechanism had a real potential to influence the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary bodies, as well as United Nations specialized agencies based in Geneva. 33. The ensuing discussion demonstrated continued support for the proposals put forward in the report on the expert workshop (A/HRC/32/26). In particular, there was support for greater communication between the Expert Mechanism, the Special Rapporteur, the Permanent Forum and other parts of the United Nations human rights system, and for the Expert Mechanism to be given the authority to select the themes of its studies and prepare an annual report on the implementation of the Declaration. 34. Participants expressed support for the number of experts to be increased from five to seven so as to represent all the indigenous sociocultural regions. Support was also expressed for the proposal that the Expert Mechanism provide technical advice and capacity-building to Member States when requested and for the secretariat to be better staffed and funded. 35. In closing, Chief Littlechild noted the proposal of the Expert Workshop for the Expert Mechanism to prepare an annual global report on the implementation of the Declaration (see A/HRC/32/26, annex I). He also noted the reference made by participants to the adoption by the Organization of American States of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which had highlighted article 24 on “Treaty rights” and acknowledged the importance of that article in advancing the treaty rights of indigenous peoples in concert with article 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. B. Briefing and discussion on the consultation process to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them 36. The briefing and discussion concerned commitments made in paragraph 33 of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them. Mr. Sauer, the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations in New York, opened the discussion by outlining the phases of the relevant consultation process established under General Assembly resolution 70/232 in which the Assembly agreed that the consultation process should be timely, inclusive, representative and transparent. The first phase was the appointment of the four advisers: Mr. Sauer and Ms. Pobee, as well as the indigenous advisers, Ms. Charters and Mr. Anaya. 37. Mr. Sauer noted that a questionnaire had been developed and sent to States and indigenous peoples asking for contributions, following which two consultative meetings had been held. Several draft compilations of the contributions had been developed following advice from States and indigenous peoples and the final compilation had now been submitted to the President of the General Assembly. The compilation would form the basis of a draft text for consideration and adoption by the Assembly at its seventy-first session. 38. The indigenous advisors outlined the content of the compilation, stating that there was a clear consensus that indigenous peoples had the right to participate in the United Nations in matters affecting them and that this did not undermine States in any way. There was general agreement on indigenous participation at all levels of the United Nations, but it was unclear whether that could be achieved by enhancing the existing mechanisms. The question of how that could be achieved, and to whom a possible new category of representation could be extended, was further outlined. 10