A/HRC/18/23 47. The vetting process for the national police in Timor-Leste was conducted between 2006 and 2009. Out of a total of approximately 3,118 officers, about 200 were not certified, and 7 were dismissed. HRTJS-UNMIT assisted in establishing the vetting process, served as an observer on the Evaluation Panel, and supplied the process with information based on its monitoring records. HRTJS also participates in the joint assessments by the Government and UNMIT to establish whether police units are ready to assume executive policing authority. HRTJS has provided training on international humanitarian law and human rights for the national police and military officers. (c) Latin America and the Caribbean 48. MINUSTAH, the United Nations Police and HRS, have been assisting the Government of Haiti in vetting the Haitian National Police (HNP), in accordance with the framework set out in the HNP Reform Plan adopted in August 2006. HRS contributed to the strengthening of the criteria for certification process and provided information relating to investigations of human rights violations allegedly committed by Haitian police officers. Between December 2006 and January 2010, the Haitian National Police and the United Nations Police opened 7,177 cases for investigation, of which 3,584 completed cases were submitted to the authorities for appropriate action. The remaining 3,593 files are being investigated. 5. National consultations 49. National consultations are a critical element of the human rights-based approach to transitional justice, and founded on the principle that successful transitional justice strategies require meaningful public participation. Public participation reveals the needs of conflict-affected communities, allowing states to craft an appropriate context-specific transitional justice strategy. Moreover, the consultative process endows victims and other members of civil society with local ownership of the resulting strategy. Although national consultations can shape the design of an overarching transitional justice strategy, they can also take place within the context of a specific mechanism. OHCHR supports national consultative processes by providing legal and technical advice, promoting victim participation, supporting capacity building, and mobilizing resources. Below are some examples of steps taken towards consultations, however, not all of the efforts should be considered as comprehensive consultations. (a) Africa 50. In resolution 1606 (2005), the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to organize consultations with the Government of Burundi and Burundian stakeholders regarding the establishment of a Truth Commission and a Special Tribunal. Pursuant to the operational framework agreement of November 2007, a tripartite steering committee, composed of United Nations, Government and civil society representatives was established to organize the national consultations. The Human Rights and Justice Division (HRJD) of the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) represented the United Nations on the tripartite steering committee, and has worked actively to ensure the inclusion of a human rights perspective in the national consultations. HRJD-BINUB has simultaneously organized sensitization and training programmes for locally elected representatives, civil society and vulnerable groups. The national consultations began in July 2009 and was completed in April 2010 with the publication of the report, which was forwarded to the President of Burundi. HRJD of the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) has begun disseminating the report in all provinces. It plans to continue working with the national authorities, as appropriate, towards the establishment of the proposed mechanisms in conformity with international standards. 13