A/HRC/39/37 J. Development of national action plans 92. A significant commitment made by States at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, and reflected in its outcome document, relates to the preparation of national action plans to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 93. In 2017 and 2018, the OHCHR office in Mexico provided technical assistance to several local governments — of Chihuahua, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro and Mexico City — to define specific outputs and indicators related to the rights of indigenous peoples in their local action plans. 94. The country office also provided assistance in the evaluation of the National Human Rights Programme. On 19 May 2017, the office organized a meeting with the Ministry of the Interior to ensure the inclusion of the right to prior consultation in the National Plan on Business and Human Rights, advocating for effective consultation with indigenous peoples for the elaboration of the plan. 95. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended the inclusion of formal monitoring mechanisms in national action plans on business and human rights,52 and the enactment of a national action plan on violence against women with special provisions to end the high rates of violence against indigenous women and girls.53 These treaty bodies also recommended the adoption of a specific national action plan on violence against indigenous women, 54 as well as the development of a national action plan for, and with the full and effective participation of, indigenous children, to eliminate their vulnerability to violence and exploitation, and recommended that resources be allocated for that national plan. 55 III. Participation of indigenous peoples in United Nations processes 96. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/321, the President of the General Assembly convened an informal interactive hearing in April 2018 with indigenous peoples to reflect on possible further measures to enhance the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them. In his opening statement, the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights emphasized that indigenous peoples faced different realities around the world. While some States recognized indigenous peoples’ governance institutions, others did not. He noted that it was critical to ensure that indigenous peoples could participate at the United Nations regardless of their status in their own countries. He also welcomed the call for regional consultations, as an important opportunity to ensure that the views of as many indigenous communities as possible, including of women and youth groups, were fully considered. 97. Every year, OHCHR supports indigenous people by improving their knowledge of, and facilitating their participation, in the work of United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms. 98. During the reporting period, 33 representatives of indigenous peoples (20 women and 13 men) from 24 countries 56 participated in the annual Indigenous Fellowship Programme. Held in Geneva from 19 June to 14 July 2017, the programme was available in Arabic, English, Russian and Spanish. Participants were introduced to the United Nations 52 53 54 55 56 See E/C.12/NLD/CO/6, para. 12. See CERD/C/CAN/CO/21-23, para. 24. See CERD/C/AUS/CO/18-20, para. 28. See CRC/C/PAN/CO/5-6, para. 36. Australia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Tuvalu, Ukraine, the United States of America and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 15