A/HRC/18/35 requests to visit Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and the United States, which he hopes will be considered favourably. 3. Specific cases of alleged human rights violations 17. Pursuant to his mandate from the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur has continued to gather, request, receive and exchange information from all relevant sources, including indigenous peoples and Governments on cases of alleged human rights violations. The Special Rapporteur has also continued his practice of providing observations and recommendations on the underlying human rights issues involved in cases under consideration. Summaries of the letters sent by the Special Rapporteur communicating his concerns over particular situations and responses received from Governments, together with the Special Rapporteur’s observations and recommendations, are included in his communications report (A/HRC/18/35/Add.1). 18. As has been his practice since the beginning of his mandate, the examination of particular cases has also involved on-site visits to examine in greater depth the issues raised in communications with Governments. In April 2011, the Special Rapporteur travelled to Costa Rica to assess the situation of indigenous peoples affected by the potential construction of the Diquís hydroelectric project. Following that visit, the Special Rapporteur provided the Government and indigenous stakeholders with his observations and recommendations on the situation (see A/HRC/18/35/Add.8); he looks forward to continuing his constructive dialogue with the Government and affected indigenous groups about this situation. Also in the past year, the Special Rapporteur completed a report on natural resource extraction and other projects affecting indigenous peoples in Guatemala, as well as a report on the specific case of the Marlin Mine in that country (A/HRC/18/35/Add.3). These reports were largely based on information gathered during the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Guatemala in June 2010. 19. On occasion, the Special Rapporteur has issued media or other public statements on issues of immediate concern arising in specific countries. Public statements that the Special Rapporteur has issued since his previous report to the Human Rights Council have related to Government reactions to protests by Rapa Nui people in Easter Island (Chile); concerns surrounding a hunger strike by Mapuche indigenous prisoners protesting charges brought against them under an anti-terrorism law in Chile; protests by indigenous peoples in Panama against legislation on mining; laws and policies regarding consultation with indigenous peoples in Peru; and concerns over legislation adopted by the state of Arizona (United States) allowing enhanced police powers to detain suspected illegal immigrants, and the effects of this legislation on indigenous peoples in the United States/Mexico border region. 4. Thematic studies 20. The Special Rapporteur has continued to examine recurring issues of interest and concern to indigenous peoples worldwide. As noted above, the Special Rapporteur provided input to the study of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the right of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making, including during a meeting of experts convened by the Expert Mechanism in March 2011, in Geneva. In particular, he shared examples of good practices of indigenous participation in various contexts based on cases that have come to his attention during his tenure as a mandate holder. 21. Building on his previous thematic studies on the duty to consult with indigenous peoples3 and the responsibility of corporations to respect the rights of indigenous peoples,4 in 2011 the Special Rapporteur is examining issues associated with large-scale projects for 3 4 See A/HRC/12/34. A/HRC/15/37. 7