A/62/286 I. Introduction 1. This is the fourth report submitted to the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur submitted his annual report to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session (A/HRC/4/32 and Add.1-4). The present report is submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/51. 2. The period under review encompasses the activities carried out between 3 October 2006 and 31 July 2007. Like the Special Rapporteur’s preceding report to the General Assembly (A/61/490), this year’s report refers in particular to a number of issues which, in his view, are of special importance for the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. The report also includes an analysis of the situation of indigenous peoples in Asia, an issue that was specifically considered at the sixth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. II. Mandate 3. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate was established by Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/57 and was renewed by Commission resolution 2004/62 and by Human Rights Council decisions 1/102 and 5/101. 4. By its resolution 2005/51, the Commission on Human Rights requested the Special Rapporteur to begin preparing a study regarding best practices carried out to implement the recommendations contained in his annual reports. Accordingly, the Special Rapporteur submitted a report on the subject to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session. III. Activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur in fulfilment of his mandate A. Report to the Human Rights Council 5. On 20 March 2007 the Special Rapporteur submitted his second report to the Human Rights Council; this was the sixth annual report under his mandate. The report covered the activities carried out between September 2006 and March 2007. During that time, the Special Rapporteur continued to focus, as in previous years, on three main areas: the investigation and thematic development of issues affecting the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people; country visits; and urgent appeals and alleged violations concerning indigenous peoples’ human rights and fundamental freedoms. 6. The Special Rapporteur’s main report and its annexes (A/HRC/4/32 and Add.1-4) contain information on the activities carried out in these three areas. Four annexes were submitted this year, concerning communications received and exchanged during the reporting period on alleged violations of indigenous peoples’ human rights and fundamental freedoms (Add.1); the report of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Ecuador from 24 April to 4 May 2006 (Add.2); the report of his visit to Kenya from 4 to 14 December 2006 (Add.3); and the final version of his 07-48664 3