A/HRC/18/35/Add.5 C. Inter-ministerial committee 52. The Special Rapporteur has learned that an inter-ministerial committee is to be established with responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the Indigenous Rights Law and other initiatives relevant to indigenous peoples, including the National Action Plan. The new law itself provides for the creation of the committee, and stipulates that it should be an “inter-ministerial committee to follow up and evaluate the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples, with the participation of their representatives and civil society” (art. 45). With the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Justice as its focal point, the committee will serve as a permanent mechanism at the national level to assist the various ministries and relevant Government bodies to coordinate efforts and implement programmes concerning indigenous peoples. To ensure its operation, the interministerial committee will have both permanent staff allocated to it and rotating temporary staff from the various ministries. D. National Human Rights Commission 53. The National Human Rights Commission, a relatively new body instituted in 2003 following the adoption of the new Constitution, is an independent State institution that operates autonomously. Its general objectives are to contribute to the promotion and consolidation of the rule of law in Congo; contribute to the widespread acceptance and understanding of human rights; assist with conceptualizing and realizing educational campaigns that promote the protection of vulnerable peoples, including indigenous peoples; promote and assist the Government of Congo with the signing and ratification of international human rights instruments; and strengthen relationships with the relevant agencies of the United Nations and with foreign diplomats. E. Other 54. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to learn of other initiatives that indicate an overall strengthening of indigenous rights within the Republic of the Congo. First, the Government has helped establish the International forum on indigenous peoples of Central Africa (Forum international sur les populations autochtones d’Afrique centrale - FIPAC), an inter-governmental initiative that allows States, civil society and indigenous peoples from Central Africa, the private sector, international NGOs and agencies of the United Nations to come together to discuss indigenous issues. 55. One key aim of the forum is to strengthen the Network of indigenous peoples of Central Africa (RENAPAC). The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that, while it is important to strengthen national and international networks in order to encourage shared learning and experience, it is essential that indigenous peoples’ organizations at the local level are not excluded from such initiatives in favour of nationalized representation that may not necessarily or fully represent local indigenous peoples’ interests. 56. The Republic of the Congo has also been actively involved in negotiations regarding a pilot project of UN-REDD (United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), the multifaceted international program to combat climate change, which has important implications for conserving traditional indigenous lands, territories and resources.28 However, the Special Rapporteur heard concerns about the inadequate consultation and 28 See The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility at http://forestcarbonpartnership.org/fcp/node/81.  15