E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.2 page 5 Introduction 1. In resolution 2001/57, the Commission on Human Rights created the post of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people with the task of receiving and exchanging information from Governments, indigenous communities and other important sources concerning the situation of fundamental rights and freedoms of indigenous people and formulating recommendations and proposals on possible measures and activities to prevent violations of those rights and freedoms. The Commission called on Governments to invite the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries. 2. Following an invitation from the Government, the Special Rapporteur visited Guatemala from 1 to 11 September 2002. The Special Rapporteur expresses appreciation to the Government of Guatemala for the invitation and the cordial welcome and cooperation he received. He also wishes to thank the Presidential Human Rights Commission (COPREDEH) for organizing his meetings with government officials. Likewise, he expresses his gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Guatemala, the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) and the representative of the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights in Guatemala for his excellent work and for arranging an extensive and well-organized programme of meetings, as well as providing infrastructure and logistics for the mission.1 He also wishes to thank the many indigenous organizations for their time and the valuable information they supplied. Lastly, he wishes to express appreciation to the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights for its cooperation, and offer his sincerest thanks to Diego Iturralde of the Institute, as well as Julian Burger, of the Indigenous People and Minority Unit in the High Commissioner’s Office, for accompanying him and helping in the preparation of this report. The programme of the mission appears in annex 1. 3. The Special Rapporteur’s visit to Guatemala was his first official mission to a Member State following his appointment in June 2001. Guatemala is of special interest and concern to the Special Rapporteur because of its demographic and cultural characteristics. In 1996 a wide-ranging peace agreement was signed by the Government and the armed opposition, putting an end to 36 years of bloody domestic conflict. It provided for the dispatch of a United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) to check on implementation, but the mission is due to end its work in December 2003. MINUGUA has reported that the undertakings in the Peace Agreements relating to indigenous rights have not been completely fulfilled. 4. This report is based on information supplied by government officials, representatives of the United Nations system in the country and indigenous people’s organizations, as well as other non-governmental organizations and the academic community. The Special Rapporteur paid special attention in his work to the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous People and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights, which form part of the Peace Agreements and set out a framework for reconciliation, security and justice for the indigenous peoples in the country.