A/HRC/44/18 Number of countries funded Amount paid (United States dollars) 2018 22 228 584.06 2019 26 179 496.78 Year Total B. 834 308.36 Training 15. The terms of reference of the fund allow the financing of briefings prior to the sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review to assist countries in the preparatory process. These briefings usually consist of plenary segments and breakout group discussions during which the policies, procedures and modalities of the universal periodic review are examined, information is exchanged and good practices and lessons learned are discussed concerning the organization of national consultations, the setting up of interministerial coordination mechanisms (so-called national mechanisms for reporting and follow-up), the drafting of national reports and participation in the interactive dialogues held by the Working Group and the Human Rights Council in plenary session. 16. In its resolution 35/29, the Human Rights Council acknowledged the crucial role that parliaments play in, inter alia, translating international commitments into national policies and laws, including by supporting the implementation of recommendations generated by the international human rights mechanisms, especially the recommendations supported by the State concerned in the framework of the universal periodic review. It is noteworthy that, within the context of the universal periodic review, the majority of recommendations require or involve parliamentary action. 17. From the perspective of the OHCHR Management Plan 2018–2021, the enhanced focus on parliaments as key enabling participants in any national human rights protection system will allow OHCHR to deliver results across all pillars. A strengthened parliamentary role in the promotion of human rights, through oversight, and the legislative and budgetary functions of parliaments, will strengthen the implementation of recommendations from human rights mechanisms; better link human rights to national development efforts and budgets; help to detect, address and potentially prevent human rights violations; enhance equality and counter discrimination, in particular through legislative efforts; strengthen accountability through oversight; and enhance participation, as parliaments are elective bodies to which civil society and national human rights institutions have direct access. 18. In 2019, the fund was used to actively promote the role of parliaments and parliamentary human rights committees in the universal periodic review process. On 13 and 14 June 2019, the fund supported a workshop on the role of francophone parliamentarians in the process that was co-organized by OHCHR and the International Organization of la Francophonie. The objective of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of members of parliaments to engage in all stages of the process, including in the preparation, review and implementation of the recommendations arising from the universal periodic review. Fourteen members of parliament from the following countries attended: Burkina Faso, Burundi, France, Gabon, Mali, Morocco, Romania and Switzerland. 19. The opening ceremony was attended by the group of francophone ambassadors and representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). It was followed by a briefing on the outcome of the subregional workshop co-organized by OHCHR and the International Organization of la Francophonie and held in Dakar in July 2018. The workshop addressed substantive human rights issues, especially the report of OHCHR on the contribution of parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review (A/HRC/38/25) and the draft principles on parliaments and human rights (A/HRC/38/25, annex I). Workshop participants heard about good practices of engagement with the human rights mechanisms and challenges faced by members of parliament. 20. From 24 to 26 June 2019, IPU and OHCHR jointly organized a seminar for members of parliamentary human rights committees entitled “Parliamentary engagement on 5