A/79/160 empowerment, it may have negative connotations to a rootless population with no fixed identity, reflecting experiences of discrimination, marginalization and persecution. 6. The present report does not distinguish between pastoralists and herders. Pastoralists engage in the seasonal and regular movement of people with their livestock between geographical or climatic regions. 5 Pastoralists and herders follow pasture and water over vast distances, year after year, taking advantage of seasonal variability to conserve and utilize resources to their fullest capacity. Not all pastoralists engage in transhumance (the seasonal droving of livestock), rather they may move herds short distances or follow irregular patterns of movement. Hunter gatherers live by hunting, fishing and harvesting wild foods. Sea nomads and seafarers are marine-maritime-based Indigenous Peoples whose mobility spans over waters rather than lands. Sea nomads’ subsistence livelihoods derive from sea and marine ecosystems, including spearfishing, gathering marine and forest products, and hunting coastal animals. 7. Many Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact move seasonally for sustenance, resources and rituals, reflecting deep material, social, cultural and spiritual ties to their territories. The physical and cultural survival of Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact is strongly linked to their territories. Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation avoid external contact outside their communities, 6 whereas Indigenous Peoples in initial contact are those who were previously living in isolation, before factors brought them into contact with the majority population. To identify the presence of Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact without exposing them to contact, specific studies must be carried out, which are scarce. The lack of data and studies is used to deny their presence and allow economic activities in their territories. While there are studies that indicate the presence of at least 40 Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation in Papua New Guinea, 7 as well as some presence in India, Indonesia and Malaysia, among others, 8 it is likely that a high number of Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact have not been identified. Their presence in Africa is not excluded, but reliable records are lacking. In America, “it is impossible to know how many indigenous peoples or persons remain in isolation, but some calculations refer to some 200 peoples and approximately 10,000 persons”. 9 IV. International law and policy framework 8. The present report examines the global situation of mobile Indigenous Peoples, incorporating and expanding upon previous findings, including those of the Permanent Forum; 10 the Expert Mechanism; 11 the secretariat of the Convention on __________________ 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 24-13045 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “Transhumance, the seasonal droving of livestock”, 2023. Those in voluntary isolation are also referred to as Indigenous Peoples in a natural condition; however, the present report uses in voluntary isolation. See www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3122-questions-and-answers-uncontacted-papua. See E/C.19/2007/12; and Survival International, “Indonesia: new ‘catastrophic’ footage shows uncontacted tribe near nickel mine”, 30 October 2023. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact in the Americas: Recommendations for the Full Respect of their Human Rights (2013). See E/C.19/2013/5 E/C.19/2012/4. See A/HRC/EMRIP/2019/2/Rev.1. 5/28