A/HRC/40/3 Vienna, it organized a high-level expert panel on human rights and drug policy and a panel on drug offences, criminal justice responses and the use of the death penalty. In Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Colombia and the Philippines, OHCHR supported national authorities, the United Nations country teams and other stakeholders in applying a human rights-based approach to the drug problem. 80. In Yemen, based on over 100 visits to prisons and detention facilities, OHCHR engaged with the authorities and humanitarian agencies on improving conditions of detention and respect for human rights. It also trained law enforcement officials on human rights. F. Participation 1. Enhancing and protecting civic space and people’s participation 81. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, OHCHR supported a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. 82. Within the framework of the Joint Action Mechanism to contribute to the protection of human rights defenders in the Americas, OHCHR followed up on the implementation of precautionary measures granted to human rights defenders at risk. In Mexico, it participated in the National Protection Mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, supporting the design of public policies and protocols. In Guatemala, it provided technical assistance for the adoption and implementation of a protocol on investigating crimes against human rights defenders. 83. In Guinea-Bissau, the National Human Rights Defenders Network, with the technical and financial support of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau and OHCHR, concluded a mapping of human rights defenders, leading to the establishment of an early warning mechanism. In Kenya, OHCHR supported the training of environmental human rights defenders from different counties, contributing to the creation of an information-sharing and advocacy network. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it provided individual protection to 304 human rights defenders. In South Africa, it co-organized a conference on the theme of supporting social movements and civil society activism to leave no one behind for peace, prosperity and sustainable development. 84. OHCHR conducted workshops to strengthen the capacity and resilience of women human rights defenders to meet challenges related to their work in East Africa and the Middle East and North Africa regions. It supported advocacy by civil society organizations on removing barriers to access to education for pregnant girls. 85. OHCHR addressed acts of intimidation and reprisals against those who cooperate with the United Nations on human rights, including through the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Human Rights, the senior official designated to lead efforts within the United Nations system in this regard. High-level engagement with States concerning urgent cases and on patterns of intimidation and reprisal was undertaken. In addition to the regional human rights defenders security platform, held in Bishkek and gathering together about 100 human rights defenders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, a regional consultation in Bangkok with civil society representatives from 16 Asian countries was organized in March 2018 to engage with civil society from the region. 86. The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples continued to facilitate the participation of indigenous representatives in meetings of human rights mechanisms and the OHCHR fellowship programmes brought to Geneva 73 advocates from indigenous and minority communities from 52 countries. The booklet marking 20 years of the fellowship 12

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