A/HRC/4/32 page 19 B. Indigenous issues in the Human Rights Council 81. The current review of the activities, organs and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council affords a valuable opportunity for improving the effectiveness of international protection of indigenous rights and their incorporation into the overall system of human rights mechanisms. Bearing in mind the provisions of the Declaration, the Council should place “indigenous issues” as a separate item on the agenda of its sessions, as the Commission on Human Rights did. It is essential for the situation of the rights of indigenous peoples to be included also in the universal periodic review currently under consideration. 82. Likewise, the Council should take account of the important contribution of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations as a forum of discussion and technical advice on indigenous peoples’ rights, in order to envisage setting up a new expert body to prepare reports and specialized studies on matters relating to the rights of indigenous peoples, in coordination with the existing mechanisms, and discussion of pertinent international standards. Modelling itself on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the future expert body should include indigenous human rights experts. 83. In its review of existing mechanisms, the Human Rights Council should consider renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people within the framework of the Council’s special procedures. Irrespective of how this particular Special Rapporteur has fulfilled his tasks, the broad and flexible definition of the special rapporteur’s mandate has played a significant role in recent years in highlighting the situation of indigenous rights in the activities of human rights bodies and international agencies and has provided new opportunities for dialogue with States and indigenous people. The Special Rapporteur has been actively supported by Governments, civil society and indigenous organizations and a series of “best practices” have been identified for implementing the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations, such as the legislative and institutional changes that have brought about progress in the protection of indigenous rights in various countries (see A/HRC/4/32/Add.5). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights must continue to play an active role in the promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples, especially with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the treaty bodies and the Special Rapporteur. 84. In this context, the universal treaty bodies’ contribution has been vital, as has that of the bodies of the regional human rights systems. The Special Rapporteur therefore invites them to continue to pay priority attention to the rights of indigenous peoples as part of their oversight activities. C. International organizations 85. Considering the groundbreaking importance of the 1998 International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries as part of the normative framework for guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples, it is important for States that have not yet done so to consider prompt ratification of this Convention and for States parties to the Convention to pursue their efforts to transfer its provisions into their legislation and institutional regulations, with the participation of the indigenous people concerned.