A/HRC/12/32 page 10 20. On agenda item 4, the Special Rapporteur recalled the preamble of the Human Rights Council resolution establishing the Expert Mechanism, which expressly referred to the Declaration. This reference provides the Expert Mechanism with a clear normative framework for the fulfilment of its mandate to provide the Council with thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples. 21. He stated that the Declaration does not attempt to bestow on indigenous peoples a set of special or new human rights, but rather provides a contextualized elaboration of general human rights principles and rights as they relate to the specific historical, cultural and social circumstances of indigenous peoples. From this perspective, he said, the standards of the Declaration connect to existing State obligations under general human rights instruments. 22. He further stated that implementing the Declaration depends on the establishment of strong partnership between States and indigenous peoples, in which both must assume responsibilities. Most of the provisions of the Declaration, including the articles that elaborate upon the elements of indigenous self-determination in the areas of self-government and autonomy, cultural integrity and social areas, require the active, good faith engagement of indigenous peoples with States and the broader political and societal structures. 23. Tegegn Melakou, Member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, was given the floor. He recalled that the mandate of the Voluntary Fund is to assist representatives of indigenous peoples, organizations and communities to participate in the deliberations of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism. In the light of its limited available resources, the Board was only able to recommend the allocation of 112 travel grants to indigenous peoples from the different regions of the world to attend the sessions of both bodies. The travel grants amounted to an approximate total US$ 412,000. This means that the Voluntary Fund was only able to support 15 per cent of the total number of requests. 24. Mr. Tegegn pointed out the fundamental importance of providing direct assistance to indigenous peoples in order for them to participate in United Nations meetings and expressed strong support for the recommendation made by the Expert Mechanism at its first session regarding the broadening of the mandate of the Fund to cover the participation of indigenous representatives in meetings of the Human Rights Council and the human rights treaty bodies. E. Adoption of the agenda 25. The agenda, as contained in document A/HRC/EMRIP/2009/1, was adopted by the Experts, and the programme of work for the five-day session was introduced. 26. Following the adoption of the agenda, the Chairperson-Rapporteur suspended the meeting and invited all to participate in the celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, organized jointly by OHCHR and ILO. Welcoming remarks were made by Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Birgitte Feiring, Chief Technical Advisor of PRO169 (ILO), Jannie Lasimbang, Chairperson