A/67/301 III. The need to harmonize activities affecting indigenous peoples within the United Nations system A. The wide range of activities within the United Nations system that affect indigenous peoples 21. Numerous institutions, agencies and programmes within the United Nations system are undertaking activities and making decisions that affect indigenous peoples. On a daily basis, multiple institutions within the system undertake hundreds of activities and manage millions of dollars within programmes that have a direct or indirect impact on indigenous peoples. In addition to the effects of those specific activities, United Nations institutions are developing and implementing various policies or guidelines for their work related to indigenous peoples. 22. Furthermore, a number of processes are in place within the United Nations system to build on existing treaty regimes, particularly in the area of climate change and environmental protection; to develop new instruments, such as the instruments being discussed within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) concerning traditional knowledge and cultural expressions; and to develop and execute new programmes or platforms of interaction, such as the upcoming World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. 23. United Nations institutions and specialized agencies have played key roles in the development of international standards related to indigenous peoples. The International Labour Organization was the first international organization to promote a set of international norms and policies specifically regarding groups identified as indigenous, with its adoption of Convention No. 107 (1957) concerning the protection and integration of indigenous and other tribal or semi-tribal populations in independent countries. The subsequent Convention No. 169 (1989) concerning indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries marked a momentous step in the consolidation of the contemporary international regime on indigenous peoples, which has been reflected in the development of other international instruments, programmes and policies. The current principal set of standards on indigenous rights, of course, is found in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 2007 (resolution 61/295). 24. United Nations agencies and institutions have played an important role in operationalizing the standards enshrined in the Declaration and other relevant human rights instruments and in mainstreaming indigenous rights throughout the United Nations system. In his work, the Special Rapporteur has come across numerous noteworthy programmes that have had a significant positive impact on promoting the rights of indigenous peoples. At the country level, for example, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has a multitude of activities targeted at indigenous peoples in areas such as culturally sensitive health care, bilingual education and disaggregated data collection. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has developed the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility to provide small grants for projects and foster a policy on engagement with indigenous peoples. OHCHR works directly with indigenous peoples at the country level, often playing a crucial role in calming situations of potential conflict involving 12-46087 7