A/HRC/42/19 28. In November 2018, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held an intersessional meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on the theme of the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of borders, migration and displacement. That issue will also be the focus of the next thematic study to be undertaken by the Expert Mechanism, which will be presented to the Council in September 2019. 29. In October 2018, during a visit to Cambodia, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples had meetings with several ministries, with a particular focus on the simplification of communal land titling processes for indigenous peoples. 30. During the reporting period, the positive measures taken by States on land rights highlighted under the universal periodic review included a draft customary land tenure agreement, a reporting and dispute resolution framework and a moratorium on approving the use of State land for agro-industries. D. Human rights defenders 31. During the period under review, threats against and attacks on indigenous people and criminalization of them, particularly those defending their lands and resources, continued to escalate in many countries, including in the context of large-scale projects relating to the extractive industries and agribusiness, infrastructure projects and hydroelectric dams. 32. The OHCHR office in Colombia received reliable information, according to which an increased number of indigenous human rights defenders had been killed, a trend that severely undermines the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples. 33. Human rights defenders working on land rights in Guatemala are most often indigenous leaders. The OHCHR office in Guatemala notes that they are, in many cases, criminalized and prosecuted. The country office, together with the Office of the Ombudsperson presented a joint report on the situation of human rights defenders, with a specific focus on the risk factors, patterns of attack, threats and intimidation, and the impact on indigenous defenders covering the period from 1 January 2017 to 30 April 2019. The country office also monitored several emergency cases relating to the protection of indigenous human rights defenders, verifying and cross-checking information with victims, families and State institutions, including the National Civil Police and the Office of the Attorney General. The country office also continued providing assistance in cases of criminalization of indigenous human rights defenders, participating in judiciary hearings and carrying out visits to the jails where they were detained. 34. The OHCHR office in Mexico documented several cases of indigenous human rights defenders killed during the period under review. It provided technical support to communities and defenders at risk and advocated with the authorities regarding their obligations. During the reporting period, the country office issued eight public statements in which it expressed concern over particular cases, urging the authorities to investigate and guarantee the integrity of defenders and their families. One successful case was the release of two renowned human rights defenders and members of an organization of the Me’phaa indigenous peoples, owing to the strong concerns expressed at the national and international level. The country office contributed to the protection of the human rights defenders through continued dialogue with the authorities and a media strategy. 35. The report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Human Rights Council in September 2018 provided a global overview of threats against indigenous human rights defenders, and their space for peaceful mobilization in particular, in the context of extractive and developmental projects (A/HRC/39/17). 36. The Committee on Enforced Disappearances adopted guiding principles for the search for disappeared persons, emphasizing the importance for the authorities in charge of the search to consider and respect the cultural patterns and practices of indigenous communities with respect to the disappearance or death of a member of such a community. In order to ensure that an effective search is conducted, the authorities in charge of the search should provide interpretation into indigenous languages. 6