E/CN.4/2002/97 page 5 Introduction “The persistent plight of the indigenous people in many parts of the world is an affront to our common humanity.” Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues, Indigenous Peoples: A Global Quest for Justice,1987 1. On 24 April 2001, at its fifty-seventh session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2001/57 in which it decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a special rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people with the following functions: (a) to gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications from all relevant sources, including Governments, indigenous people themselves and their communities and organizations, on violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; (b) to formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people; (c) to work in close relation with other special rapporteurs, special representatives, working groups and independent experts of the Commission on Human Rights and of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. 2. Pursuant to the resolution, the Special Rapporteur has undertaken a number of activities, beginning with an initial dialogue with indigenous organizations, government delegates, non-governmental organizations, individual experts, members of the Secretariat, and United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, while he was attending the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in July 2001. This helped him to identify some crucial concerns that indigenous peoples are currently facing with regard to their human rights. 3. The Special Rapporteur attended the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance from 31 August to 7 September 2001, in Durban, South Africa. Furthermore, in response to numerous invitations, he addressed a number of seminars and workshops on issues related to his mandate, such as a regional consultation on the World Bank’s operational policies on indigenous peoples, a regional seminar on education and human rights organized by UNESCO, another one organized by UNITAR on capacity-building for conflict resolution and reconciliation involving indigenous peoples, as well as a seminar of the Commission on Human Security, and an evaluation of the impact of ILO Convention No. 169 at its tenth anniversary (November/December 2001). 4. The Special Rapporteur takes this opportunity to express his appreciation to the Governments, institutions, organizations and individuals who have replied to his early request for information and collaboration, as well as to the devoted staff of OHCHR who have provided technical support and advice. He looks forward to receiving more information from these sources, and hereby asks all Governments and interested parties for their full and prompt cooperation.