A/68/317 already pointed out, that indigenous peoples and individuals are equal to all other peoples and individuals. 76. That being said, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that it is not necessary to resolve the debate about the nature of the Declaration’s affirmation of selfdetermination in relation to international law in order for there to be a meaningful commitment to that affirmation. The position that the self-determination recognized in the Declaration is different from that of international law is born of the assumption, mistaken in the view of the Special Rapporteur, that under international law, self-determination necessarily means the right to become an independent State. But indigenous peoples, as such, rarely, if at all, seek independent statehood outside of classic situations of non-self-governing territories. Thus, the position is of little or no practical utility for the States that assert it and is mostly a distraction. 77. Whatever the validity of that position, it is clear that the right to selfdetermination affirmed in the Declaration, like the right as affirmed in international law generally, has a core meaning around which there is substantial consensus. That meaning, essentially, is that indigenous peoples have the right to pursue their own destinies in all spheres of life, under conditions of equality, and to live within governing institutional orders that are devised accordingly. The focus of States, along with that of relevant international institutions and indigenous peoples themselves, should be on strengthening commitment to this core principle and taking practical steps to implement it. D. The need for greater awareness of the Declaration and its role in promoting reconciliation and social harmony 78. Based on his work over the two terms of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur is convinced that a still pending crucial task is raising awareness about the Declaration among Government actors, the United Nations system, indigenous peoples themselves, and, more generally, society. The Special Rapporteur has observed throughout his work a lack of knowledge and understanding about the Declaration, the values it represents or the deep-seated issues confronting the indigenous peoples that it addresses. 79. As already noted, the text of the Declaration evolved from sentiments articulated by indigenous peoples that prompted discussion on a global scale about their rights and place in the world. Government actors were moved to embrace a vision of a world in which indigenous peoples and their diverse cultures survive as parts of the global human mosaic. The Declaration’s words mark the transition from an era in which dominant thinking justified infringing or ignoring indigenous peoples rights to an era in which indigenous peoples’ rights are recognized within the global programme to advance human rights and peaceful relations among the peoples of the world. 80. Implementation of standards articulated in the Declaration first requires an awareness of those standards and their justification by Government and United Nations actors at all levels, including those actors whose functions and powers touch upon the lives of indigenous peoples. There is also a great need for educating the public about the Declaration and the issues it seeks to address. It will remain difficult for the goals of the Declaration to be achieved amid competing political, economic and social forces unless the authorities and non-indigenous sectors of the 20/22 13-42710