A/HRC/12/32 page 17 V. DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 61. The Chairperson-Rapporteur opened the discussion under the agenda item on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its sub-item (a) on “Implementation of the Declaration at the national and regional levels” and sub-item (b) on “Adjudication, remedies, repatriation, redress and compensation”. She asserted that the sole reference to the Declaration in the preamble of Council resolution 6/36 meant that this instrument could constitute a key normative framework in formulating thematic advice from the Expert Mechanism. She stressed that the consideration of agenda item 4 (a) was not meant to establish the Expert Mechanism as a monitoring body on the implementation of the Declaration. Ms. Lasimbang also provided the basis for the discussion on agenda item 4 (b) which can be found in articles 8, 10 to 12, 20, 27, 28, 32 and 40 of the Declaration. 62. Expert Member John Henriksen recalled that, at the first session of the Expert Mechanism, the Indigenous Caucus had proposed several thematic issues for discussion, including the right to self-determination and adjudication, remedies, repatriation, redress and compensation. The Expert Mechanism had opted to include the latter as a sub-item. He also expressed the wish that the future thematic focus of the Expert Mechanism would naturally emerge from the discussions and informal consultations the Expert Mechanism would be pursuing with governmental delegations and representatives of indigenous peoples. 63. He said that this agenda item reflects the Expert Mechanism’s wish to initiate and encourage discussions about possible ways and means for making the provisions of the Declaration a reality on the ground. He concurred with the Chairperson-Rapporteur that the Expert Mechanism had no intention of trying to position itself as a monitoring body for the implementation of the Declaration, simply because it is not mandated to do so. He declared that the Expert Mechanism nevertheless had a duty to promote respect for and full application of the provisions of the Declaration. He further declared that this followed from article 42 of the Declaration, which establishes a duty for the United Nations, its bodies and agencies to promote the respect for and full application of the Declaration and follow up the effectiveness of the instrument. 64. Mr. Henriksen affirmed that the main challenge for the international community and for Member States was to ensure that the Declaration is implemented at national and regional levels, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples. He underlined that the Declaration represents a commitment on the part of the United Nations and its Member States, to its provisions, within the framework of the obligations established by the Charter of the United Nations to promote and protect human rights in a non-discriminatory basis. He said that the Expert Mechanism stands ready to contribute towards the realization of the Declaration within the scope of its mandate as established by the Council. 65. The Secretariat conveyed some information on the activities that OHCHR has undertaken to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration, including promotional, awareness-raising and training activities. OHCHR also referred to two documents issued by the Office: one is the draft guidelines on the protection of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation in the Amazon basin and the other is a report on the technical workshop on natural resource companies, indigenous peoples and human rights. These initiatives were welcomed by observers, who