A/62/286 resources, and environmental polices have failed to sufficiently involve indigenous peoples. Development projects, such as the La Parota dam in the State of Guerrero, which has caused serious social conflict in the region, continue to threaten indigenous livelihoods. 30. National consultations on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Special Rapporteur’s report on his 2002 official visit to the Philippines were held in that country in 2007. Despite the progress achieved in certain areas, such as education and institutional reform (see A/HRC/4/32/Add.4, paras. 71-75), the status of indigenous peoples has not changed significantly since the last assessment of their situation four years ago. The considerable efforts of some public bodies, such as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the National Commission on Human Rights, have still not made an impact on the human rights violations to which indigenous communities are subjected. 31. In some respects, it is clear that the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in the Philippines has worsened since 2002. While it is commendable that many communities have received certificates of ancestral domain title, complaints concerning land losses and lack of access to the natural resources necessary for survival persist. The rapid loss of forest resources, on which the livelihoods of many communities rely, is cause for concern. The legal framework underpinning current economic policies promotes the practice of stripping indigenous peoples of their lands, thereby benefiting a small group of international companies and other private interest groups holding concessions for mining, fishing, plantation agriculture, tourism and other activities undertaken at the expense of the ancestral rights of indigenous people, many of whom are facing forced eviction and other difficulties. The increase in extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, unlawful detention and other serious human rights violations committed by the police, the army and paramilitary groups during ongoing social conflicts is also extremely serious. 32. An international expert seminar on best practices in the implementation of the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations was held, under the auspices of the Government agency Rights and Democracy, the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) and other civil-society organizations, in Montreal from 5 to 7 October 2006. The seminar allowed the Special Rapporteur to hear the experiences and opinions of a large group of experts, including representatives of indigenous peoples, international organizations, regional human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations, on the impact of the recommendations set out in his country and thematic reports. The seminar’s main conclusions, which provided valuable input to the study on best practices presented to the Human Rights Council, were the subject of a recent publication. 1 E. Other activities 33. In April 2007, the Special Rapporteur took part in a joint technical assistance mission to Nepal with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, __________________ 1 8 Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. The UN Special Rapporteur: Experiences and challenges. International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Tebtebba Foundation and Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers). IWGIA Document No. 118, Copenhagen, 2007. 07-48664