A/HRC/24/41/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples examines the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in Namibia on the basis of research and information gathered, including during a visit to the country from 20 to 28 September 2012. The issues addressed and recommendations made in the report concern culturally distinct peoples who are indigenous to Namibia and who have characteristics of non-dominance and marginalization similar to those of indigenous peoples in other parts of the world. 2. While in the capital city of Windhoek and during the course of his mission, the Special Rapporteur met with the Prime Minister, as well as with representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister and its Division of San Development; the Ministry of Environment and Tourism; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement; and the Ministry of Education. In addition, the Special Rapporteur met with the Human Rights Ombudsman, and with representatives of several non-governmental organizations and various agencies of the United Nations. 3. The Special Rapporteur conducted field visits to various parts of Namibia, where he met with representatives and members of numerous San groups, including the Ju/’hoansi San in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy area in Tsumkwe; the Khwe San living in the Bwabwata National Park in the Caprivi and Kavango regions; and the Hai//om San living in and around Etosha National Park. He also met with representatives of the Himba, Ovazemba and other indigenous peoples in Opuwo. In Windhoek, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the Rehoboth Basters and the Nama people. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to all the indigenous communities and representatives with whom he met for sharing their concerns and aspirations and for the valuable information they provided. 4. The Special Rapporteur would like to thank the Government of Namibia for the openness it demonstrated in allowing him to carry out his work freely and independently. He would also like to express his gratitude to representatives of indigenous peoples, nongovernmental organizations, members of civil society, and the United Nations Country Team in Windhoek, whose assistance in planning and carrying out of the mission was indispensable. The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the indigenous peoples who welcomed him into their communities and lands and for the hospitality he received. II. Indigenous peoples in Namibia 5. The earliest inhabitants of present-day Namibia are generally assumed to have been the ancestors of the San and Khoe peoples, and have been in the area for at least 1,500 to 2,000 years – perhaps even longer. Traditionally, the San peoples of the Kalahari Desert region in Southern Africa were nomadic hunters and gatherers who managed limited plant, animal and water resources in the region within shared areas. Various Bantu-speaking groups, including the Owambo, Herero and Kavango started moving into the area that currently comprises Namibia around 500 years ago. 6. Today, Namibia has a relatively small yet multicultural population of approximately 2.1 million people, including numerous ethnically distinct groups. The Owambo people are the largest group in the country, comprising about half of the total population. Overall they are well represented in national politics and enjoy higher levels of social and economic well-being than other groups. In general the Herero and Kavango peoples also maintain a 4