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Please see 2 parts of this WUNRN release on the Mandate and New Appointment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People.

 

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/mandate.htm

Please click website Link to access subsite references.

In carrying out these different activities, the Special Rapporteur is also requested to work "in close cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and to participate in its annual session;" to “develop a regular cooperative dialogue with all relevant actors;" to pay a "special attention to the situation of indigenous children and women;" ....

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In this section Mandate Normative framework Resolutions Annual reports Country visits Communications Submitting information to the Special Rapporteur Follow-up of recommendations Documents Archived news Other links Thematic pages Indigenous Peoples Special Procedures Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People Mandate Human Rights Council resolution 6/12 requests the Special Rapporteur: (a) To examine ways and means of overcoming existing obstacles to the full and effective protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, in conformity with his/her mandate, and to identify, exchange and promote best practices; (b) To gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications from all relevant sources, including Governments, indigenous people and their communities and organizations, on alleged violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; (c) To formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people; (d) To work in close cooperation, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council, relevant United Nations bodies, the treaty bodies, and human rights regional organizations; In carrying out these different activities, the Special Rapporteur is also requested to work "in close cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and to participate in its annual session;" to “develop a regular cooperative dialogue with all relevant actors;" to pay a "special attention to the situation of indigenous children and women;" to consider "relevant recommendations of the world conferences and treaty bodies on matters regarding his/her mandate;" and to “submit a report on the implementation of his/her mandate to the Council in accordance with its annual programme of work.” In addition, the resolution establishing the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Human Rights Council requests the Special Rapporteur to attend and to contribute to its annual meeting.

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http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/

Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People

On 26 March 2008, the Human Rights Council appointed Prof. S. James Anaya, for an initial period of three years, as new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people. Prof. Anaya is James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona (United States). Prof. Anaya will assume the mandate on 1 May 2008.

 

Indigenous peoples across the world experience the consequences of historical colonization or conquest, and face discrimination because of their distinct cultures, identities and traditional ways of life. In recent decades, the international community has given a special importance to the human rights situation of indigenous peoples, as shown in the adoption of international norms and guidelines, as well as in the establishment of specific institutions and bodies specifically targeted at these peoples. The rights of indigenous peoples are further promoted by international and regional human rights mechanisms (See Indigenous Peoples).

In this context, the, the Commission on Human Rights decided to appoint in 2001 a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, as part of the system of thematic special procedures. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate was renewed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2004, and by the Human Rights Council in 2007. See Mandate.

In the fulfillment of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur:

·         Presents annual reports on particular topics or situations of special importance regarding the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples (See Annual reports);

·         Undertakes country visits (see Country visits);

·         Exchanges information with Governments concerning alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples (see Communications);

·         Undertakes activities to follow-up on the recommendations included in his reports (see Follow-up of recommendations).

Mandate holders

Prof. S. James Anaya, United States of America (2008-)

Dr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Mexican (2001-2008)

Further information	Contact information
The resolutions and the mandate, the thematic reports on country visits, and the reports containing summaries of communications with Governments are available on this web site (See Documents). See also the Brochure on the Special Rapporteur’s communications procedure.	The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is serviced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: OHCHR, United Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Tel. + 41 - 22 917 91 34 fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10 Email: indigenous@ohchr.org