A/HRC/18/35/Add.5 gather lifestyles and becoming integrated into the dominant social, economic and cultural patterns. Used in this sense, emancipation appeared to strongly suggest assimilation and loss of robust distinct indigenous identity. 63. The Special Rapporteur notes that the Indigenous Rights Law explicitly prohibits forced assimilation of indigenous peoples (art. 14), as do contemporary international standards. Hence, any initiative to address the situation of indigenous peoples must not have as its goal, in principle or practice, assimilation in the sense of incorporation into the broader society with significant loss of identity. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the efforts to overcome discrimination and improve the conditions of indigenous peoples must promote the overarching right of indigenous peoples to self-determination, which means advancing for indigenous peoples every opportunity to participate as full members of society, as well as the ability to maintain the integrity of their distinctive cultures and develop according to their own priorities. V. Conclusions and recommendations 64. The Special Rapporteur commends the Government of the Republic of the Congo for its commitment to reverse the disadvantaged conditions of indigenous peoples - those groups that have been known as Pygmies – and to advance their rights. This commitment is reflected in a number of initiatives, especially the National Action Plan and the new Law on the Promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. 65. The following conclusions and recommendations are aimed at strengthening, and meeting the significant challenge of implementing, the initiatives being taken to advance the rights of indigenous peoples in Congo, within the framework of international standards. The recommendations are directed primarily to the Government, but are also addressed in some respects to other actors, including the United Nations system and indigenous peoples themselves. Combating discrimination 66. The Special Rapporteur perceives the social inequities faced by the indigenous people in Congo be rooted in historical patterns of social, economic, cultural and political discrimination. These patterns continue, thereby impeding indigenous peoples’ effective control over all aspects of their lives, limiting their ability to enjoy basic human rights, and contributing to undermining their cultural identities. 67. The Special Rapporteur observes that the master-slave relationships that persist in present day Congo (paras. 16-19) reflect the structural inequities that result from deeply engrained discriminatory attitudes about indigenous peoples. These attitudes appear to have been internalized by both indigenous and non-indigenous segments of society to a significant extent, leading to acquiescence to these destructive power dynamics between the stronger and weaker elements of society. 68. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges the important steps taken in both the Indigenous Rights Law and the National Action Plan to redress the situation of discrimination. Still, given the profound systemic and entrenched discrimination against indigenous peoples, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes the need for broad societal engagement in order to erase discriminatory attitudes and foster a sense of understanding and respect among all Congolese citizens. The Special Rapporteur considers that overcoming this challenge will require a coordinated and concerted 17