A/HRC/35/17 proactive approach, which included sending targeted correspondence, to ensure that all States entitled to assistance under the Voluntary Fund availed themselves of the opportunity. The initial difficulties experienced since the implementation in November 2015 of Umoja were slowly being overcome. Whenever difficulties were faced, the secretariat made all possible efforts to limit the impact on delegations in need of support. 18. Since the inception of the universal periodic review and in recognition of the inherent related challenge of ensuring that participation is indeed universal, the needs and constraints of least developed countries have been considered. Ensuring the informed, regular and full participation of States with little resources and no representation in Geneva, in addition to all other States, requires regular outreach activities. Although no bilateral meetings were held in New York or Brussels and no field-based briefings were organized in 2016, it is envisaged that the start of the third cycle of the universal periodic review will result in a new round of briefings. The secretariat is exploring the best options to continue to support States not only to participate in the reviews but for the review to be understood as a full process, in particular at the national level, focusing on the implementation of recommendations made during the previous cycles. The importance of national follow-up and reporting processes is regularly emphasized and initiatives to support the efforts of States in that regard are being developed by OHCHR. 5