United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/24/41/Add.1 Distr.: General 25 June 2013 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-fourth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya Addendum The situation of indigenous peoples in Namibia* Summary 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. Indigenous peoples in Namibia have suffered injustices in the past that leave them disadvantaged, to varying degrees, in the present. Since the independence of Namibia in 1990, the Government has made many significant achievements in rolling back some of the destructive legacies left by colonialism and apartheid. However, certain indigenous peoples—including the San, Himba (Ovahimba), Ovazemba, Ovatjimba and Ovatue people—are disadvantaged relative to other groups in the country and have not seen the promises and benefits brought by independence fulfilled for them. These groups have expressed strong desire for greater inclusion in decision-making at all levels, to be able to genuinely set their own priorities for development and to regain or strengthen rights over lands and natural resources, particularly lands to which they retain a cultural attachment. Especially in recent years, the Government has entered into some innovative arrangements with San tribes through which they have been able to increase their control over management of land areas and derive some substantial benefits. In full consultation with the affected peoples, these kinds of innovative arrangements should be expanded and * The summary of the present report is circulated in all official languages. The report itself, which is annexed to the summary, is circulated in the language of submission only. GE.13-15105