A/80/181 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert Kwokwo Barume, as his first report to the General Assembly, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 51/16. In the first part of the report, he provides details of his activities as a mandate holder since his appointment. The second part is devoted to the theme of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to lands, territories and resources, including their identification, d emarcation, registration and titling. II. Activities 2. The Special Rapporteur took up his functions on 1 January 2025. He dedicated the initial months of his mandate to raising awareness of and promoting Indigenous Peoples’ rights, engaging with and listening to Indigenous Peoples around the world, and learning from them about current issues, trends, concerns and priorities. 3. From 10 to 14 February, in Rome, the Special Rapporteur attended the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Governors’ Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples. On those occasions, he emphasized that the right to self-determination is foundational for Indigenous Peoples, as it enables the realization of other rights, such as the rights to food, cultural identity and dignity. He highlighted the importance of food sovereignty as a culturally rooted, rights-based concept that empowers Indigenous Peoples to define and sustain their own food systems. He called for renewed pride in traditional foods as essential pathways to justice and sustainability. 4. From 18 to 21 February, the Special Rapporteur engaged in team -building activities at the University of Colorado Boulder, in the United States of America, along with academics, experts and staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The purpose of the gathering was to set up the external team that supports the Special Rapporteur, in view of the very limited financial and human support that the Office can afford to provide. 5. From 24 to 28 February, the Special Rapporteur was in Bangkok for the 2025 Asia preparatory meeting on United Nations mechanisms and procedures relating to Indigenous Peoples, organized by the Asia Indigenous People’s Pact. On that occasion, the Special Rapporteur held public and private meetings with a wide range of representatives of Indigenous Peoples. 6. From 5 to 8 March, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Nairobi, where he participated in a regional meeting of African Indigenous leaders on strategic engagement with his mandate. During the event, he explained the main elements of his mandate, leading participants to identify the main issues and entry points in the various subregions of Africa, as well as priorities and operational approaches for advancing Indigenous Peoples’ rights in the African context. The meeting highlighted the importance of engagement with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and collaboration with its Working Group on Indigenous Populations/ Communities and Minorities in Africa. 7. From 15 to 21 March, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Australia, on invitation from civil society and academia, to undertake a lecture tour through the cities of Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney in order to promote the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to contribute to a celebration organized by the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In his 25-11701 3/21