A/HRC/18/35/Add.5 participation of local communities, indigenous peoples and civil society in the development of the Congo Readiness Preparation Plan (RPP), the document that establishes the implementation strategy of the REDD project. Further concerns with the plan include a lack of specific provisions concerning the rights of indigenous peoples under the plan, which may lead to inadequate benefit-sharing of REDD revenues. The Government of Congo insists that civil society organizations have taken an active part in the implementation of the REDD process. IV. Implementation challenges 57. The Special Rapporteur recognizes that the Government of Congo has manifested a commitment to advance the rights of indigenous peoples in light of relevant international standards by adopting important legislative, policy and administrative measures. In particular, the development of both the law on indigenous peoples and the National Action Plan are significant landmarks in this regard. 58. However, the Special Rapporteur is concerned that a great deal remains to be done to advance implementation of these initiatives, beginning with ensuring that all relevant Government officials and agencies are aware of the implications of these initiatives for their respective portfolios. With regard to the National Action Plan, despite its stated timeframe of 2009 to 2013, the Special Rapporteur observed during his visit in late 2010 – the plan’s second year of operation – that a number of high-level Government officials of ministries directly related to the development, success and implementation of the plan were not aware of its existence. Also, the Special Rapporteur did not hear of any specific activities directly focused on implementing any aspect of the plan, and very few, if any, ministries had specific budgets allocated to initiatives that would be essential to turn the plan into action. 59. The Special Rapporteur also observes that UNICEF is the only United Nations agency that has been involved in supporting the National Action Plan. Given the broad goals of the plan, particularly in relation to education and health care, it is important that all United Nations agencies with a presence in Congo engage directly with the National Action Plan in connection with their relevant development and human rights promotion activities. 60. In a similar vein, although the Indigenous Rights Law had not yet been adopted at the time of his visit, consideration of the law in the National Assembly was in its final stages, and the Special Rapporteur observed that few, if any, Government ministries or departments had started contemplating specific initiatives or reforms directly in response to the requirements of the law. 61. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that the challenge of implementation is considerable; the goals of the initiatives are significant, and the disadvantage of indigenous peoples with regard to the full spectrum of their rights is severe. For this very reason, the Special Rapporteur urges that concerted effort be made at every level of Government, in conjunction with the support of the international community, to ensure that these initiatives are realized. He further emphasizes that this concerted effort should be realized with full appreciation of indigenous cultural patterns and their own aspirations for the future. 62. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that many Government officials have voiced their broad commitment to quashing discriminatory attitudes against indigenous peoples. In this context, however, the Special Rapporteur repeatedly heard the term “emancipation” lauded as the goal for the indigenous peoples of Congo. While emancipation may be an appropriate goal regarding the rights of indigenous peoples to be free from conditions of forced labour or to enjoy a life free from discrimination, the term also seemed to be used by Government officials in a way that advocated for indigenous peoples to abandon their traditional ways of life, including moving away from their hunter- 16