HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS participate in these processes. For instance, members of the National Human Rights Platform, “La Alianza,” received training on how to formulate municipal and departmental public policies that incorporate a human rights-based approach. The trainings’ participants formed a network to further disseminate this information and achieve more effective participation in the formulation and oversight of public policies. A consultation mechanism was initiated, in 2016, to enable the participation of indigenous peoples in Costa  Rica. Eight ethnic groups from 24 indigenous territories across the country are involved. In 2017, after more than 120 meetings and activities throughout the country, a national meeting was held, in May, during which indigenous delegates met with representatives from the Government, the NHRI and UN agencies to discuss a proposal for a prior consultation mechanism. A second national meeting will be held in 2018 to conclude the process. In Panama, a dialogue was held between the Government and indigenous authorities from the Comarca Ngabe-Bugle region to guarantee the participation of indigenous peoples in the decision-making process related to the exploitation of natural resources in the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project. The dialogue contributed to ending violent confrontations between indigenous peoples and security forces and led to a negotiated agreement which included compensation for the communities affected by the project, as well as measures to reduce its social, economic, cultural and environmental impact. Nonetheless, the General Congress of the Comarca Ngabe-Bugle rejected the agreement and no further progress has been achieved since then. With regard to the protection of the right to land in Colombia, although 122 requests for the protection of territories were presented by indigenous and Afrodescendent authorities during the reporting period, most of these were not processed. The limited realization of the rights to territorial integrity and participation affected the exercise of the autonomy and self-determination of ethnic peoples, thereby increasing their vulnerability. After the peace agreements were signed, new displacements and restrictions to the effective enjoyment of the right to land and territory were generated as a result of disputes over land by new actors involved in drug trafficking in areas that were previously controlled by the FARC-EP guerrillas. In view of this situation, UN Human Rights supported the formulation of protocols for inter- UN Human Rights participates in a ceremony where Jorng indigenous peoples in Cambodia are handed their indigenous peoples’ identity registration, September 2017. © OHCHR/Cambodia UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2017 33