A/HRC/15/36 V. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 48. The Chairperson-Rapporteur opened the discussion under the agenda item on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by recalling that the purpose of the discussion is not to list violations or to monitor the implementation of the Declaration, which the Expert Mechanism is not mandated to do. Rather, the aim of the discussion is to identify positive practices and challenges in the use of the Declaration at the local, regional and international level. In this context, he also welcomed contributions concerning the follow-up to the first study on the right to education and on how the study has helped efforts to improve the implementation of the Declaration. 49. Several government delegations made interventions under this agenda item, highlighting achievements in the implementation of the principles of the Declaration, and also providing a number of examples of efforts to raise awareness of the Declaration, including through its publication and distribution in local languages. Many governments highlighted the importance of the Declaration and the chance to have a specific discussion on it in the context of the Expert Mechanism session was welcomed by a number of speakers. There were also specific examples of the way in which the first study by the Expert Mechanism on the right to education has been considered at the national level in the context of the formulation of policies and practices concerning indigenous peoples and education. 50. Many representatives of indigenous delegations welcomed the discussion on the Declaration and the endorsement of the Declaration by their respective governments. Many speakers commended the fact that those States that voted against the Declaration have changed or are reassessing their positions and that the role of the Declaration is therefore strengthening further. Several positive examples of the use of Declaration in the domestic context were provided, but various obstacles in the implementation of the principles of the Declaration were also highlighted by several speakers, including issues related to the recognition of indigenous peoples. Many speakers called for enhanced implementation by the authorities and others concerned and stressed the need to step up awareness-raising and training on the Declaration. A number of speakers stressed the role of the NHRIs in supporting the implementation of the Declaration and welcomed the recent activities of OHCHR aimed at further encouraging the engagement of NHRIs in this area. 51. Proposals were also made with regard to the future work of the Expert Mechanism, including a proposal for a compilation and analysis of the growing jurisprudence related to the Declaration. 52. The Special Rapporteur put forward a proposal to enhance the implementation of the Declaration, calling for training, seminars and conferences at national and local levels to bring together State officials and indigenous leaders to develop strategies and initiatives for implementation. He also stated that States should engage in comprehensive reviews of their existing legislation and administrative programmes to identify where they may be incompatible with the Declaration. 53. The Chair of the Permanent Forum recalled that the Expert Mechanism, the Special Rapporteur and the Permanent Forum are the three United Nations mechanisms dealing specifically with indigenous issues and recommended that they continue to have regular meetings to strengthen their collaboration and the coordination of their work in promoting the rights of indigenous peoples. In relation to the support to the Declaration, he commended the recent developments toward universal endorsement while acknowledging the existing challenges for the effective implementation of the Declaration. He further 13