A/HRC/21/47 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples pursuant to his mandate under Council resolution 15/14. In the report, the Special Rapporteur provides a summary of his activities since his previous report to the Council (A/HRC/18/35), including his examination of the issue of violence against indigenous women and girls. He then gives a report on progress in his continuing study of issues relating to extractive industries operating on or near indigenous territories. 2. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges with gratitude the assistance provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Support Project for the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples at the University of Arizona College of Law. Such assistance was indispensable in the preparation of the present report and its addenda, and in carrying out his work. He also expresses thanks to the many indigenous peoples, States, United Nations bodies and agencies and non-governmental organizations that cooperated with him over the past year in the implementation of his mandate. II. Summary of activities A. Coordination with international mechanisms and bodies 3. In accordance with his mandate from the Human Rights Council to develop a regular cooperative dialogue with all relevant actors, the Special Rapporteur has continued to coordinate work with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the two other United Nations bodies with specific mandates focusing on indigenous peoples, and with other United Nations institutions. 4. An especially important part of the Special Rapporteur’s coordination with the Permanent Forum and Expert Mechanism is the practice of holding parallel meetings with indigenous peoples and organizations during the regular sessions of those bodies. At the recent sessions of the Permanent Forum and Expert Mechanism, the Special Rapporteur held individual meetings with some 40 indigenous groups, who presented information on specific cases of concern. Face-to-face meetings afford an opportunity to discuss issues directly with affected groups, bearing in mind the many cases involving threats to the rights of indigenous peoples around the world and the limited time and resources available to the Special Rapporteur to travel to all places of interest. 5. The Special Rapporteur also continues to participate in the annual sessions of the Permanent Forum and Expert Mechanism. During the eleventh session of the Permanent Forum, in May 2012, the Special Rapporteur spoke on the special theme for the year: “The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)”. In his statement, he noted that it was clear that the colonial-era doctrine of discovery, when coupled with related doctrines of conquest and European racial superiority, was a driving force for atrocities committed against indigenous peoples on a global scale, with the consequences continuing to be felt. He said that the international community, especially through the United Nations system, had expressed strong rejection of the legal doctrines and social attitudes that perpetuated discrimination and disregard for indigenous peoples and their rights, and many developments over the past several decades, 3