A/HRC/4/32/Add.2 page 6 Introduction and context 1. Pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/57 of 24 April 2001, which established his mandate, and at the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people visited Ecuador from 25 April to 4 May 2006. 2. The purpose of the visit was, among other things, to better gain an understanding of the situation of the human rights of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador through discussions with various social players on issues such as the effects of the 1998 Ecuadorian Constitution, which recognizes the collective rights of indigenous peoples; their access to justice; their rights to land and natural resources; the impact of the oil industry on their communities; and concerns over negotiations on the free trade agreement with the United States of America. 3. The Special Rapporteur would like to express his gratitude to the Government of Ecuador and, in particular, to the Council for the Development of Ecuadorian Nationalities and Peoples (CODENPE) and its head, Dr. Lourdes Tibán, for their invitation and cooperation, in addition to the many indigenous organizations for their hospitality and information. The Special Rapporteur also expresses his special gratitude to Dr. Diego Iturralde, of the Inter-American Institution for Human Rights, for his support throughout the mission. I. PROGRAMME OF THE VISIT 4. The Special Rapporteur visited the provinces of Pichincha, Imbabura, Esmeraldas, Chimborazo and Pastaza, in addition to the capital, Quito. In the capital, he met representatives of the Ecuadorian Government, including the President and members of the Cabinet, in addition to representatives from indigenous institutions such as CODENPE, the Department of Bilingual Intercultural Education (DINEIB) and the Department of Health for Indigenous Peoples (DNSPI). 5. The Special Rapporteur also met the President of Congress; the President of the Supreme Court; the Constitutional Court; the Supreme Electoral Tribunal; the Office of the Ombudsman, and the National Department for the Indigenous Peoples (DINAPIN). 6. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur interviewed local authorities and representatives of indigenous nationalities and peoples, local indigenous community leaders and members of civil and grass-roots organizations. In Imbabura, he met leaders of the Kayambi, Kitu-kara, Otavalo, Natabuela and Caranqui peoples. In San Lorenzo (Esmeraldas), he met Awá, Chachi and Épera leaders. In Riobamba (Chimborazo) he met representatives from the Quechua, Waranka, Puruha, Kañari, Chibuleo, Saraguro, Panzaleo and Salasaka peoples and nationalities. In Pastaza, in the Amazon region, he visited the Sarayaku community; in Puyo he interviewed representatives from the Shuar, Achuar, Huaorani, Zápara, Shiwiar and Andoa communities from the provinces of Zamora Chinchip, Morona Santiago, Napo and Orellana. In the capital, he spoke with representatives from the Cofán, Quechua, Shuar, Siona and Secoya communities from the border with Colombia.