A/59/258 fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. The main sources of these communications are non-governmental organizations, indigenous organizations, intergovernmental organizations and other United Nations procedures concerned with the protection of human rights. If the complaints are considered justified, the Special Rapporteur sends communications to the States mentioned; these communications may take the form of “urgent appeals” in cases of imminent danger of violations of the human rights of individuals, or even entire indigenous communities, or “letters of allegation” in cases of a less urgent character. An effort is also made to follow up on these communications and the Special Rapporteur reports thereon to the Commission in his annual report. 7. The situations that have led to the intervention of the Special Rapporteur during the period under review are described in the reports to the Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/2002/97/Add.1, E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.1 and E/CN.4/2004/80/Add.1). C. Legal framework 8. The international legal framework for the Special Rapporteur’s work is set out in his initial report (E/CN.4/2002/97, paras. 11 to 14) and in addendum 1 to his report to the sixtieth session of the Commission (E/CN.4/2004/80/Add.1, paras. 80 to 99). Since his appointment, the Special Rapporteur has in general focused activities under his mandate on three main areas of work: thematic investigation of issues that have an impact on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples; country visits; and communications with governments concerning allegations of violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples the world over. III. Status of the issue: progress and major human rights problems affecting indigenous peoples 9. During the years covered by the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People 1995-2004 proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/163, considerable progress has been made at the national and international levels with respect to the recognition and promotion of the human rights of indigenous people, including the 1989 Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the adoption of relevant national legislation in that area. The Special Rapporteur urges States that have not yet done so to ratify the above-mentioned Convention. It is very important for the indigenous people that the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, prepared by the working group on indigenous people and adopted by the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, should be adopted. The draft is currently under review by the working group of the Commission established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32. Despite the progress achieved at the international level, the Special Rapporteur finds it regrettable that negotiations on the draft declaration are still deadlocked. However, he acknowledges the efforts made by various delegations during the ninth session of the working group (see E/CN.4/2004/81), which is considering the draft declaration, and urges the parties to adopt, even if on a preliminary basis, those articles where a 5