A/HRC/24/41 their communities and organizations, on alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples” (Council resolution 15/14, paragraph 1 (b)). 17. Within the resources available to him, the Special Rapporteur does his best to act on all submissions that include complete and well-documented information, in cases that involve violations of the rights of indigenous peoples that may not be adequately addressed by domestic authorities. Full copies of letters sent and replies received are contained in the Joint Communications Report of Special Procedures Mandate Holders issued periodically by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/22/67 and Corrs. 1 and 2, and A/HRC/23/51). Over the past year, the Special Rapporteur examined a total 37 cases in the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Suriname, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 18. The Special Rapporteur has placed a special importance on following up on the situations reviewed, issuing in numerous cases observations and recommendations to the Governments concerned. Summaries of all letters sent by the Special Rapporteur and replies received by Governments since last reporting to the Human Rights Council, as well as observations and recommendations issued by the Special Rapporteur in these cases, are contained in an addendum to the present report (A/HRC/24/41/Add.5). 19. The cases addressed over the past year reveal that many ongoing barriers to the full enjoyment of the rights of indigenous peoples persist throughout the world. These cases involve threats to the enjoyment of indigenous peoples’ rights to their traditional lands and resources, acts of violence against indigenous peoples and individuals, including against indigenous women and children, the forced removal of indigenous peoples for large-scale development projects, the suppression of indigenous peoples own forms of organization and self-government, and conditions of poverty and related socials ills that are perpetuated by patterns of discrimination. 20. Also, on several occasions since last reporting to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur has issued public statements concerning situations that, in his view, require immediate and urgent attention by the Governments concerned. Public statements were issued in relation to the following situations: acts of violence between indigenous Tagaeri-Taromenane and Waorani peoples of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador; rising tensions and violence against indigenous peoples by non-indigenous settlers in the Bosawas Reserve, Nicaragua; protests by First Nations and a month-long hunger strike by the Chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation, in Canada; violent clashes between indigenous protesters and members of the military that resulted in the death of six indigenous persons, in Guatemala; the imminent sale of land that encompasses a site of spiritual significance to indigenous peoples in South Dakota, United States; and a process of dialogue to address the military presence in the Nasa territory, Colombia. 4. Thematic studies 21. For the past three years, the thrust of the thematic focus of the Special Rapporteur has been on the issue of extractive industries affecting indigenous peoples. The Special Rapporteur’s last report on this issue is contained in the main report presented to the Human Rights Council this year. As detailed in the main report, over the past year, the Special Rapporteur has participated in numerous meetings to gather perspectives on the issue from indigenous peoples, Governments, and companies, including meetings in Australia, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States. Additionally, as part of his study, he launched an online forum to 26