A/66/288 7. The Special Rapporteur has noted a significant level of confusion among indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders about the respective roles and functions of the three mechanisms, as well as their place within the institutional structure of the United Nations. He has therefore strived to collaborate with the other mechanisms in a coherent and transparent way in order to maximize understanding about the role and purpose of each mechanism. 8. The respective mandates of these three mechanisms, created at different times and in response to different moments in the international movement to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, are complementary but overlapping in certain respects. The Special Rapporteur has consistently worked to strengthen and consolidate the coordination processes between them to avoid unnecessary duplication and to maximize opportunities and the effectiveness of each body. He believes that continued education about the individual mandates and functions of these mechanisms is essential. 9. The Special Rapporteur has, from the beginning of his mandate, participated in regular coordination meetings with both the Permanent Forum and the Expert Mechanism to promote coordination. In February 2009, he participated in a seminar in Madrid with the members of the Expert Mechanism and four members of the Permanent Forum, along with a group of experts from various regions, including the former Special Rapporteur, Rodolfo Stavenhagen. The main objective of the meeting was to promote an informal dialogue among the members of the three mechanisms so that they could better coordinate their work, as well as their activities with other United Nations agencies and bodies. 10. Since then, the Special Rapporteur has met annually with representatives of the Permanent Forum and the Expert Mechanism to share work agendas, discuss the strengths and limitations of their respective mandates and explore methods for carrying out their work in the most effective way possible. 11. The Special Rapporteur has also worked closely with the Expert Mechanism and contributed to its final study on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making. He participated in two meetings: a regional consultation organized by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, which members of the Expert Mechanism also attended, held in Thailand in January 2010; and an expert seminar convened by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), held in Geneva in March 2011. The study (A/HCR/EMRIP/2011/2) was presented at the fourth session of the Expert Mechanism, held in Geneva from 11 to 15 July 2011. The Special Rapporteur had also provided comments for the previous study of the Expert Mechanism, on the right of indigenous peoples to education. 12. Since assuming his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has attended each annual session of the Permanent Forum and the Expert Mechanism and has participated in the discussion of the substantive issues under consideration. During those sessions, he developed the practice of holding parallel meetings with indigenous peoples and organizations, which have provided an invaluable opportunity for representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations from around the world to raise their specific situations and concerns in a manner that complements the more general discussions of indigenous issues by the Permanent Forum and Expert Mechanism. During the sessions, the Special Rapporteur also met with representatives of various States and 4 11-44942