A/HRC/45/22 91. The OHCHR Regional Office for South America organized a workshop in Brazil in August 2019 for 30 indigenous leaders, in partnership with the main national indigenous networks and the Amazon Cooperation Network. Participants identified recommendations emanating from the universal periodic review related to the rights of indigenous peoples and assessed the status of their implementation. 92. Organizations of indigenous persons with disabilities from Canada reported for the first time to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2019, in follow-up to the Committee’s previous concluding observations. In addition, at meetings of the eleventh pre-sessional working group of the Committee, representative organizations of indigenous persons with disabilities took part in private meetings and bilateral briefings with Committee members and shared their views about the remaining challenges for protecting their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 93. The Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order organized a consultation on the intersectional topic of public participation and decisionmaking in global governance, with the participation of a number of indigenous representatives. On the basis of that consultation, he recommended that global governance spaces and their respective member States and non-State members ensure that engagement with civil society is diverse and inclusive, in particular in relation to indigenous peoples (A/HRC/42/48, para. 78 (d)). 94. In November 2019, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia jointly organized a civil society consultation with almost 100 participants, most of whom were indigenous human rights defenders, from 11 countries in the region. The regional office also held a training session to support Thai civil society organizations preparing shadow reports in the context of the review of the periodic report of Thailand by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. IV. Conclusions 95. Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world continue to face significant challenges in claiming their human rights, as highlighted by United Nations human rights mechanisms. In particular, concerns regarding how indigenous communities are being adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including beyond the health threat, were reported during the period under review. 96. The lack of appropriate mechanisms for the meaningful consultation, cooperation and participation of indigenous peoples in some States resulted in the adoption of insufficient or inappropriate measures to address the needs of indigenous communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In that context, OHCHR has assisted States in fulfilling their duty to consult and cooperate with indigenous peoples in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent in all steps leading to the adoption and implementation of measures that may affect them, including during such global health crises. 97. An alarming increase in attacks, killings and the criminalization of the activities of indigenous human rights defenders, especially those defending their traditional lands and natural resources, was reported, placing indigenous peoples in a very precarious situation even prior to the COVID-19 crisis. The impact of the global health crisis increased risks, in particular in the case of human rights defenders from indigenous communities without secure tenure over their lands and territories. In that context, OHCHR continues to draw attention to cases in which rights are being denied and to support States in enhancing their capacity to protect indigenous human rights defenders, so that they are able to carry out their vital work. 98. Indigenous peoples worldwide continue to face numerous challenges in gaining access to formal justice systems. OHCHR assists indigenous peoples in acquiring access to legal remedies and in advocating for the recognition of their own traditional justice systems. OHCHR also supports States in strengthening the participation of indigenous 15