A/66/288 United Nations agencies to discuss opportunities for collaboration and specific cases concerning indigenous peoples. 13. In addition to cooperating with the Expert Mechanism and the Permanent Forum, the Special Rapporteur has welcomed opportunities to join efforts with a range of United Nations, regional and specialized bodies on matters concerning indigenous peoples. He has provided observations on initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), OHCHR, the World Bank, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Pan American Health Organization. This coordination is important, as the Special Rapporteur promotes awareness of indigenous issues and programmatic action that is conducive to mainstreaming those issues and to effectively implementing standards of indigenous rights as affirmed in relevant international instruments. 14. The Special Rapporteur has continued to exchange information with the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights on cases of alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in the Americas, in an attempt to ensure coordinated efforts and avoid unnecessary duplication. He has also confirmed his willingness to cooperate with the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in the future. III. Areas of work 15. The Special Rapporteur has engaged in a range of activities to monitor the human rights conditions of indigenous peoples worldwide and promote steps to improve those conditions in line with relevant international standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He has tried to develop work methods oriented towards building a constructive dialogue with Governments, indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, relevant United Nations agencies and others in order to address challenging issues and situations and build on advances already made. The various activities carried out in this spirit can be described, as already indicated, as falling within four, interrelated spheres of activity: promoting good practices, country reports, cases of alleged human rights violations and thematic studies. A. Promoting good practices 16. The Special Rapporteur has worked to advance legal, administrative and programmatic reforms at the national and international levels in accordance with the Declaration and other relevant international instruments. Often, such reforms are major, complex undertakings requiring strong commitment, both financial and political, on the part of Governments and international entities, as well as close cooperation with indigenous peoples. 1. Promoting good practices at the national level 17. During the course of his work, the Special Rapporteur has been asked to provide assistance with constitutional and legislative reform initiatives aimed at harmonizing national frameworks with relevant international standards. 11-44942 5

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