A/73/176 functions in line with their own cultures. In practic e, however, the traditional authorities face challenges in terms of administering their communities effectively, given their small numbers relative to other groups and given that San authorities do not have the power to administer communal lands (see A/HRC/24/41/Add.1). 79. There are also several examples illustrating how increasing indigenous peoples ’ ability to govern themselves and participate in governance has furthered cooperation and dialogue between indigenous peoples and the State. 80. Since 2009, Greenland’s self-rule government and parliament have held authority over all matters internal to Greenland, while the Danish authorities still control defence and foreign policy, among other areas (see A/72/186). The present model of self-rule, which was adopted by the Danish Parliament and 75 per cent of the population of Greenland in a referendum, is a result of a process initiated in the 1970s by Greenlanders towards increasing self-governance. While Home Rule was achieved in 1979 with the establishment of a local parliament and a public government with authority in most political, social and economic matters internal to Greenland, the desire for further control of subsurface resources and the quest to be recognized as a people according to international law led to new negotiations between Greenland and Denmark and, finally, to the establishment of the present self -rule model. The process is regarded as unique, as it was initiated by Greenlanders themselves and negotiated peacefully with the Government of Denmark. 23 81. In New Zealand, the Maori have had guaranteed representation in Parliament since 1867 through various electoral arrangements, although mostly by setting aside separate seats in the Parliament for Maori. The Electoral Act of 1993 makes the number of reserved seats for Maori proportional to the number of Maori registered on the Maori electoral roll. This representation arrangement has provided the M aori with an important opportunity to participate in and influence national decision -making on a range of issues. Furthermore, it has facilitated dialogue and the partnership between the Government and the Maori, which has been interpreted as having been e stablished by the Treaty of Waitangi. Despite various initiatives and the explicit goals of the local government act to facilitate Maori participation, the representation of Maori in local government has been more difficult to achieve (see A/HRC/18/35/Add.4). 82. The Sami parliaments are representative bodies that were established in Norway, Sweden and Finland in 1989, 1992 and 1995, respectively, to facilitate consultation with the Sami people on matters affecting them, among other objectives. 24 The models of the national Sami parliaments vary across the three countries, as regulated by national legislation in the form of a Sami parliament act and the constitutions of each country, in which the Sami people and their autonomy are recognized, albeit in different ways — and some only after recent amendments. Despite the recognition of Sami parliaments as representative bodies of the Sami people and their ability to represent indigenous peoples on matters affecting them, the Special Rapporteur and her predecessor have raised concerns several times about the limited decision -making power of the parliaments and the challenges they face, given their dual function as a State administrative agency and a popularly elected body representing the Sami people (see A/HRC/18/35/Add.2 and A/HRC/33/42/Add.3). 83. In the Congo, Act No. 5-2011 on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Populations includes a range of provisions that promote the rights of indigenous peoples to culturally appropriate development within the sectors of health, education, work, culture and lands and territories. The Act moreover provides for __________________ 23 24 20/23 Submission received in 2018 from an expert of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In addition to the Sami in Norway, Sweden and Finland, there are about 2,000 Sami living in the Russian Federation, where they are represented through non-governmental organizations. 18-11856