A/66/288
and to strengthen, mainstream and advance implementation of international
standards concerning the rights of indigenous peoples.
26. In July 2011, the Special Rapporteur testified as an expert witness before the
Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case Sarayaku v. Ecuador, regarding
the principles of consultation and free prior and informed consent.
27. In May 2011, the Special Rapporteur gave the keynote speech at a session in
Geneva of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic
Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore of WIPO, which is in the process of
developing an international legal instrument on traditional knowledge, genetic
resources and traditional cultural expressions.
28. In February 2011, the Special Rapporteur provided extensive observations on
the draft guidelines of UNDP on consultation with indigenous peoples in the context
of activities to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Also in
February 2011, he contributed to the development of a regional intercultural health
policy by the Pan American Health Organization during a special meeting convened
in Washington, D.C.
29. In January 2011, in Paris, he participated in the meeting of a working group of
State delegates to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), providing comments to focus attention on indigenous issues in the process
of updating the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
30. At various times during the past year, the Special Rapporteur has provided
comments to the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group during
the Corporation’s review of its performance standard No. 7, on indigenous peoples,
including by meeting with officials of the Corporation and providing written
observations on drafts of the performance standard.
31. In November 2010, the Special Rapporteur participated in a seminar in Geneva
on land and human rights hosted by OHCHR, at which he provided information on
and analysis of the particular human rights concerns of indigenous peoples in
relation to lands.
32. The Special Rapporteur participated in seminars on the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples organized by OHCHR in Peru, in
October 2008, in Nicaragua, in June 2009, and in Trinidad and Tobago, in December
2009.
33. The Special Rapporteur has been collaborating with UNDP to produce a
resource guide on indigenous peoples’ rights for UNDP staff and others working on
indigenous issues.
34. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur has cooperated with the World Bank. On
3 June 2008, he was the featured speaker at a seminar on “Advancing indigenous
rights and development in Latin America and the Caribbean”, held in Washington,
D.C., at which he focused on the role of the World Bank in relation to various
challenges and initiatives concerning indigenous peoples. The Special Rapporteur
continues to maintain contact with representatives of the World Bank to explore
ways of coordinating further with a view to advancing indigenous peoples’ rights
through the Bank’s programmes.
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