A/72/186 XI. Universal responsibility for implementation 79. Protection and promotion of human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, is a universal responsibility. Since the adoption of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, there is a better understanding on how the private sector can meet this responsibility. Some policy initiatives have been adopted on the basis of the Declaration 75 although, according to allegations received by the mandate holder, business activities, particularly those related to infrastructure building and extractive industries, are still far from respecting the rights enshrined therein. The role of international financial institutions and private investors in the promotion of the Declaration within their field of work is essential in this regard. 76 80. Development and conservation civil society organizations are also important actors. Their work should adhere to a human rights-based approach, by cooperating with indigenous peoples in achieving the ends of the Declaration and supporting their own self-determined commitments to respect the Declaration. It is positive that already in 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the key global entity for the adoption of conservation policies on protected areas, explicitly pledged its commitment to implementing the Declaration in conservation work. However, as noted by the current mandate holder in her assessment of how conservation initiatives impact indigenous peoples’ rights, “considerable implementation gaps remain and new threats to human rights-based conservation are emerging”. 77 81. Academic institutions have developed quite a number of good practices, which should be supported and replicated, in terms of increasing respect and understanding of the rights of indigenous peoples. This includes supporting their rights to their own knowledge, promotion of indigenous-led research, and incorporation of indigenous rights in university curricula or scholarship programmes for indigenous students. 82. The mass media also plays a role, which it should be aware of and a ccountable for, in terms of perpetuating racist assumptions about indigenous peoples. Positive promotion of a better understanding of indigenous rights in mainstream media is important. 83. The donor and diplomatic community in many countries can play a si gnificant role not only in terms of providing funds, but also in extending support for the intercultural political dialogue needed. XII. Conclusions and recommendations 84. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the most advanced and comprehensive international human rights instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It constitutes the main legal framework, together with international human rights treaties and conventions, of the work of the Special Rapporteur, whose mandate has specifically included the task of promoting its implementation since 2007. __________________ 75 76 77 20/23 See United Nations Global Compact, “The business reference guide to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” (New York, 2013); United Nations Global Compact, “Indigenous peoples’ rights and the role of free, prior and informed consent”, good practice note (2014); International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association, “Indigenous peoples and the oil and gas industry: context, issues and emerging good practices” (2012); and International Council on Mining and Metals, “Indigenous peoples and mining”, position statement (May 2013). See A/HRC/33/42/Add.2 (2016). See A/71/229, para. 11. 17-12399