A/HRC/41/28 Table 2 Expenditures for travel of government representatives to attend sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review and plenary sessions of the Human Rights Council Number of countries funded Amount paid (United States dollars) 2008 6 16 885.00 2009 17 23 568.00 2010 23 39 942.00 2011 21 11 698.00 2012 3 11 295.00 2013 6 35 176.00 2014 15 53 939.00 2015 23 95 512.00 2016 26 82 300.25 2017 15 55 912.27 2018 22 228 584.06 Year Total B. 654 811.58 Training 16. 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. 17. 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. 18. From the perspective of the OHCHR Management Plan 2018–2021, the enhanced focus on parliaments as a key enabling participant 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 an elective body with direct access for civil society and national human rights institutions. 19. In 2018, the Fund was used to actively promote the role of parliaments and parliamentary human rights committees in the universal periodic review process. On 21 and 22 June 2018, the Fund supported a high-level meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, hosted by OHCHR in Geneva. Over 40 delegates, representing national parliaments within the Assembly, the European Parliament, observer non-governmental 5