A/HRC/18/35/Add.6 I. Introduction 1. The present report examines the human rights situation of the Kanak people of New Caledonia, a sui generis collectivity of France.1 It is based on information provided to the Special Rapporteur during his visits to New Caledonia from 6 to 13 February 2011 and to Paris from 22 to 24 July 2011, as well as on written submissions provided to the Special Rapporteur and independent research. The visits were carried out with the cooperation of the Government of France and the authorities and indigenous leaders in New Caledonia. 2. During his visit to New Caledonia, the Special Rapporteur visited North Province and South Province on Grand Terre, the main island of New Caledonia, as well as Loyalty Islands Province. On Grand Terre, he visited the communes of Nouméa, Koné, Poro, Thío, and Sarraméa, and in the Loyalty Islands, the islands of Lifou and Ouvéa. He met with representatives of the French Government, including the High Commissioner, subprefects (sous-préfets) of North and Loyalty Islands provinces, and the judge of the court established in Lifou. He also met with officials of the Government of New Caledonia, including the President, Vice-President and cabinet members, the First and Second VicePresidents of Congress, the full Customary Senate (Sénat coutumier), representatives of the Rural Development and Land Planning Agency (ADRAF), Presidents of the Provincial Assemblies in North, South and Loyalty Islands provinces or their deputies, Mayors of Koné and Maré, and a representative of the Mayor’s office in Nouméa. 3. The Special Rapporteur was pleased to have been received by and have the opportunity to meet with the authorities and members of several Kanak communities, including the chiefs and customary Councils (Conseils coutumiers) of Ajië Aro, Hoot ma Waap and Paici-Camuki. He also met with representatives of a number of Kanak organizations, including the Conseil national pour les droits des peuples autochtones (CNDPA); neighbourhood associations in the communities of Montravel, Tindu and Nouville in the commune of Nouméa; the Comité de revendication indigène (CRI); the Association des 33 communes; the Groupe dynamique autochtone LKS; the Union nationale du peuple Kanak (UNPK); the Association de la renaissance culturelle; several Groupements de droit particulier local (GDPLs); women’s councils in North and Loyalty Islands provinces; and several associations representing Kanak youth. The Special Rapporteur met with members of political parties, namely the Front de libération nationale kanak socialiste (FLNKS) and the Parti travailliste (PT); labour unions, including the Union des syndicats des travailleurs Kanak et des exploités, the Confédération national des travailleurs de la Pacifique, the Syndicat autonome des policiers de Nouvelle-Calédonie, theRevenue Services of New Caledonia, the Union des groupements de parents d’élèves (EGPE); and environment protection associations, including Corail vivant, Réveil quotidien and Sauvegarde de la nature néo-Calédonienne. Finally, the Special Rapporteur spoke with representatives of the Koniambo and Vale-New Caledonia mining interests, and visited the Camp Est prison facility in Nouméa. 4. In Paris, the Special Rapporteur was pleased to be received by Marie-Luce Penchard, Minister in charge of the Overseas; the adviser to the Prime Minister on overseas issues; Pierre Frogier and Maurice Ponga, members of the French National Assembly and 1 4 New Caledonia is the only overseas territory of the Republic of France with this special status, which reflects its path toward autonomy, including the progressive and irreversible transfer of governmental responsibilities from the Government of France to the New Caledonia Government (see Ministère de l’Outre-Mer) and the creation of New Caledonian citizenship (see Organic law no. 99-209 of 19 March 1999 concerning New Caledonia, art. 4).