A/64/338 Rapporteur was able to meet with the Saami Council and the Saami Parliaments in the Nordic countries to discuss ways of strengthening institutional arrangements for protecting their rights. The Saami Parliaments have become an increasingly effective means for Saami people to enhance control over matters affecting their lives and communities. 22. In an innovative initiative by an indigenous government, the Navajo Nation in the United States has established the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission. On 19 December 2008, the Special Rapporteur attended a “human rights orientation” organized by the Commission for members of the Navajo Nation Council and engaged in a discussion with the Commission and Council members on ways to advance the human rights of Navajo people through the use of international human rights mechanisms. 23. The Special Rapporteur visited Australia to attend a meeting entitled “The sixtieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: The Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of Australia”, organized by the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action in Canberra from 3 to 5 December 2008. During the visit the Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to meet informally with various governmental representatives, marking the beginning of a constructive dialogue in preparation for his mission in August 2009. 24. An important component of efforts to build good practices at the domestic level is a policy of commitment to advance the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the United Nations Declaration. As noted, in 2009, Australia, officially endorsed the Declaration and Colombia expressed its support for the Declaration. In his future work, the Special Rapporteur will continue to promote positive developments. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his willingness to offer constructive technical and advisory assistance to Governments, companies, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders, where needed, in their efforts to establish legal, administrative and programmatic initiatives and reforms in indigenous matters. The work of the Special Rapporteur in this regard will be oriented in practical terms and aimed at identifying and promoting models that can be applied in various contexts. The Special Rapporteur foresees detailing these models, where they exist and have been successful, in his subsequent reports to the General Assembly and to the Human Rights Council as well as in other public reports. B. Thematic studies 25. A second area of the Special Rapporteur’s work, which is intended to contribute to good practices in specific country situations, involves conducting or participating in studies on issues or themes that are of interest to indigenous peoples in all regions of the world. The former Special Rapporteur carried out a number of thematic studies to identify major issues and to provide a foundation for subsequent positive practical action and reform, including on the impacts of development projects on indigenous communities, the implementation of domestic laws and international standards to protect indigenous rights, indigenous peoples and the education system, the relationship between formal State law and customary indigenous law and international norms concerning indigenous peoples. 09-50281 9