A/HRC/21/47/Add.2 I. Introduction 1. This report examines the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in Argentina and makes recommendations in that regard. The report is based on information the Special Rapporteur gathered during his visit to Argentina from 27 November to 7 December 2011, and on his own research into the indigenous peoples of the country. 2. During his visit to Argentina, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the Federal Government, indigenous peoples, civil society and the United Nations in the city of Buenos Aires. He also met with representatives of indigenous peoples in the capitals of the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, Jujuy, Salta and Formosa, and visited several traditional territories and communities of indigenous peoples in the provinces of Neuquén, Jujuy and Formosa. He met with representatives of the provincial governments in Neuquén, Salta, Jujuy and Formosa. However, at both the federal and provincial levels, with the exception of the province of Formosa, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that he was not able to meet with a representative sample of the authorities from all branches of government. 3. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government of Argentina for its invitation to visit the country and the support provided by the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs (INAI) during his visit. The Special Rapporteur also wishes to thank the various indigenous organizations and individuals that provided essential logistical support during his visit, and the representatives of indigenous peoples who provided written and oral information about their situation. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the staff of the office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Argentina, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and the University of Arizona Support Project for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples for their assistance in preparing for the visit and in drafting this report. II. The indigenous peoples of Argentina 4. The colonial period in Argentina in the nineteenth century, and especially the series of military campaigns carried out in the country, led to the extermination of a large portion of the indigenous peoples living in Argentina. From the colonial period to the end of the twentieth century, Government policies towards indigenous peoples involved both exclusion and assimilation. Until 1994 the Constitution stipulated that it was the responsibility of parliament to “maintain the peaceful relationship with the Indians, and promote their conversion to Catholicism”.1 5. Notwithstanding this history, there is still a great diversity of indigenous peoples in Argentina, including the following: Atacama, Ava Guaraní, Aymara, Chané, Charrúa, Chorote, Chulupi, Comechingón, Diaguita/Diaguita Calchaquí, Guaraní, Huarpe, Kolla, Lule, Mapuche, Mbyá Guaraní, Mocoví, Omaguaca, Ona, Pampa, Pilagá, Quechua, Querandi, Rankulche, Sanavirón, Tapiete, Tehuelche, Toba, Tonocote, Tupí Guaraní, and Wichí. The indigenous peoples with the largest populations in Argentina are the Mapuche (Patagonia), the Kolla (Jujuy and Salta), the Toba (Chaco, Formosa and Santa Fe) and the Wichí (Chaco, Formosa and Salta). 6. Until 2001, the national census did not gather specific data on indigenous peoples as such. It was only recently, in June 2006, that the National Statistics and Census Institute published the first figures from its Supplementary Survey of Indigenous Peoples, which 1 4 National Constitution of Argentina of 1853 (with amendments), art. 67, para. 15. GE.12-14947