A/HRC/36/22 in violence against indigenous human rights defenders, who faced smear campaigns, criminalization and severe attacks against their life and physical integrity. 31. The Office has also been monitoring closely the case of the murder in March 2016 of the indigenous human rights defender and environmentalist Berta Cáceres, including the implementation of protection measures of the National Protection Mechanisms granted to her relatives and lawyers and to the members of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has also granted them precautionary measures. The Office has coordinated efforts with the International Advisory Group of Experts and various American NGOs, including the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras. 32. Human rights treaty bodies have also raised concerns about the situation of human rights defenders working on indigenous peoples’ rights. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed alarm at the defamation of, threats made against and, in particular, murder of human rights defenders, including leaders of indigenous and AfroHonduran groups. The Committee also expressed concerns about the murders of Berta Cáceres and René Martínez and recommended that Honduras investigate those murders, duly punish those found responsible and widely disseminate the results of the investigations. 33. The Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concerns at the constant threats against and murders of human rights defenders and leaders of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples and recommended that Colombia adopt effective and timely measures to prevent acts of violence against human rights defenders, including leaders and defenders of the rights of indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples, ensure effective protection of their lives and personal safety and conduct thorough investigations and bring effective prosecutions of persons who threaten their lives and physical safety. 34. In his report to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session (A/71/281), the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders chose to explore the issue of environmental human rights defenders and recommended that States guarantee the right of indigenous communities to consultation and participation in decisions at every stage of a project’s life cycle. He also urged United Nations organizations and agencies to address the legal gaps that heighten risks for environmental human rights defenders, including weak environmental standards and laws protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, their land rights and customary title to territories and resources. C. Early-warning mechanisms and monitoring of human rights violations 35. During the reporting period, OHCHR pursued several activities aimed at assisting national authorities and other relevant actors in taking steps to prevent or mitigate human rights violations, including by supporting early warning mechanisms, risk assessments and rapid response capacities. 36. In October 2016, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Plurinational State of Bolivia provided technical assistance and support to the Ombudsman’s Office in relation to the Tacana people’s complaint, which referred to the existence of indigenous peoples living in isolation in a territory where activities of oil exploration were taking place. Despite the complaint, oil operations continued. The Tacana people requested that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights take precautionary measures. 37. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia supported the work of various protection mechanisms, such as the National Protection Unit of the National Commission on Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples. The Office also worked with indigenous authorities in strengthening their control and selfgovernance of lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership. 38. Human rights treaty bodies also raised issues related to early warning. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommended that Colombia 6