A/HRC/4/77 page 12 35. In response to a request for technical assistance support from OHCHR Nepal, a needs assessment mission was undertaken in Nepal from 21 to 25 August 2005 to identify protection and empowerment gaps in support of Dalits and other national minorities, as well as indigenous peoples. The main objectives of the mission were to contribute to the development of an integrated OHCHR Nepal policy and of strategies on issues of long-standing discrimination; to build the capacity of OHCHR staff in the regions on Dalit and ethnic issues; to carry out discussions and assess with affected communities their experience of State responses to problems of discrimination at the community level, and to explore and contribute to practical remedies for discrimination at the grass-roots level. The mission paid particular attention to the situation of women and in this context a specific workshop to hear the voices of the Tharu women was organized in Nepalgunj in the Bardiya Banke District. 36. OHCHR also funded and participated in a training workshop for indigenous representatives of Cambodia held from 8 to 10 July 2006 in Phnom Penh in cooperation with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation. Thirteen participants from various organizations and regions, including Ratanikiri, were given the opportunity to exchange experiences on issues such as land concessions and natural resource management. Issues were discussed in light of the provisions of the draft United Nations declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples, the jurisprudence of the United Nations Treaty Bodies but also national laws and regulations which were not being enforced. The training was conceived for local trainers who in turn provided another human rights training session in the region in November 2006. OHCHR Cambodia also conducted a field visit to Ratanikiri with the objective of gathering general information about land issues, in particular issues affecting indigenous populations, economic land concessions and mining concessions. 37. Human Rights Strengthening (HURIST) is a joint programme of UNDP and OHCHR aimed at integrating human rights in development by building the capacity of UNDP country offices, preparing methodologies and toolkits on human rights and commenting on and disseminating good practices in the application of human rights in development. HURIST also includes an indigenous component whose objectives are to contribute to the implementation of the UNDP policy of engagement with indigenous peoples and to create forums for dialogue at the national level to ensure participation of indigenous peoples in UNDP (and eventually UNCT) activities at both the policy and programme levels. The underlying purpose of the programme is to promote the full participation of indigenous peoples in the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects that affect them. The pilot programme component on indigenous peoples was concluded in December 2006, having established participatory consultative mechanisms in Bolivia, Ecuador and Kenya. VII. INDIGENOUS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME 38. The Indigenous Fellowship Programme (IFP) remains an important means of strengthening civil society. In 2006, a total of 20 indigenous representatives (including 11 women and 9 men) participated in the four linguistic components of the Indigenous Fellowship Programme (English, Spanish, French and Russian). Communities and countries represented were: Khomani San (South Africa), Chamling (Nepal), Arrente Clan (Aboriginal of Australia), Wayuu and Arhuaco (Colombia), Ogiek (Kenya), Miskitu (Nicaragua), Shuar (Ecuador), Maya (Guatemala), Amazigh (Morocco), Batwa (Burundi), Touareg (Algeria),