A/HRC/18/35/Add.5 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 11 July 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Eighteenth 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 the Republic of the Congo∗ Summary In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples examines the situation of marginalized indigenous peoples in the Republic of the Congo, on the basis of information gathered during his visit to the country from 2-12 November 2010 and subsequent independent research. The focus of the report is an examination of the situation of those groups in Congo that have previously been known as Pygmies and that are generally regarded by governmental and non-governmental actors as the country’s indigenous peoples. The Special Rapporteur discusses the extreme social and economic disadvantages of these peoples and their discrimination and marginalization in comparison to the rest of Congolese society, especially in labour relations, housing, education, access to health services, lack of civil status, participation in public life, as well access to land and natural resources. The Special Rapporteur identifies recent initiatives undertaken to advance the rights of marginalized indigenous peoples, and comments on the new Law on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recently promulgated by the President. He considers the new law a good practice on the African continent, viewing it as roughly in line with international standards. The Special Rapporteur also reviews other initiatives taken by the Government, as well as by NGOs and international organizations present in Congo. He presents and analyses some of the challenges that will need to be overcome for an effective implementation of the new law and other initiatives, recalling the need for ∗ The summary is being circulated in all official languages. The report, which is annexed to the summary, is being circulated in the language of submission and in French only. GE.11-14646