RES/6/12 Human rights and indigenous peoples: mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people

Human Rights Council

Resolution 6/12. Human rights and indigenous peoples: mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people

The Human Rights Council,

Bearing in mind paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15

March 2006,

Recalling the resolutions 5/1 “Institution-building of the United Nations

Human Rights Council” and 5/2 “Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-

holders of the Human Rights Council” of 18 June 2007 and stressing that the

mandate-holder shall discharge his/her duties in accordance with these resolutions and

their annexes,

Recalling also resolutions 2001/57 of 24 April 2001, 2002/65 of 25 April 2002,

2003/56 of 24 April 2003, 2004/62 of 21 April 2004 and 2005/51 of 20 April 2005 of

the Commission on Human Rights entitled “Human rights and indigenous issues”,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the

situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people for a period

of three years:

(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;

(e) To work in close cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous

Issues and to participate in its annual session;

(f) To develop a regular cooperative dialogue with all relevant actors,

including Governments, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and

programmes, as well as indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations and

other regional or subregional international institutions, including on possibilities for

technical cooperation at the request of Governments;

(g) To promote the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples and international instruments relevant to the advancement of the

rights of indigenous peoples, where appropriate;

(h) To pay special attention to the human rights and fundamental freedoms

of indigenous children and women, and to take into account a gender perspective in

the performance of his/her mandate;

(i) To consider relevant recommendations of the world conferences,

summits and other United Nations meetings, as well as the recommendations,

observations and conclusions of the treaty bodies on matters regarding his/her

mandate;

(j) To submit a report on the implementation of his/her mandate to the

Council in accordance with its annual programme of work;

2. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special

Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, to furnish all

information requested in his/her communications and to react promptly to his/her

urgent appeals;

3. Encourages all Governments to give serious consideration to the

possibility of inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable

him/her to fulfil the mandate effectively;

4. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the necessary human, technical and

financial assistance to the Special Rapporteur for the effective fulfilment of his/her

mandate;

5. Decides to continue consideration of this question in conformity with

the Human Rights Council’s programme of work.

[Adopted without a vote] 21st meeting

28 September 2007

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