A/HRC/21/23 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 18/8 concerning human rights and indigenous peoples, adopted on 29 September 2011, the Human Rights Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to submit to the Human Rights Council an annual report on the rights of indigenous peoples containing information on relevant developments in human rights bodies and mechanisms and activities undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner at Headquarters and in the field that contribute to the promotion of, respect for and the full application of the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 2. The present report focuses on some illustrative examples of the activities and initiatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) undertaken at Headquarters and by field presences that contribute to the full application of the rights of indigenous peoples. The aim of providing these examples is not to offer an exhaustive overview of the work of OHCHR on indigenous peoples’ rights, but rather some examples of the action taken at country, regional and headquarters levels. The report also provides an overview of the recent developments within United Nations human rights mechanisms in so far as their work pertains to indigenous peoples. II. Activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 3. During the period under review, OHCHR continued to work in a wide range of contexts for the promotion and the full application of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Rights of indigenous peoples have continued to be a priority issue for the High Commissioner and indigenous issues figure prominently in the OHCHR Strategic Management Plan for 2012-2013. 4. The High Commissioner has regularly addressed indigenous peoples’ rights in her communication with authorities and others concerned. She has raised concerns about indigenous peoples’ rights in various statements in intergovernmental and other forums, including in her media statement on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August 2011, which focused on the issue of consultation and free, prior and informed consent with regards to extractive industries and development projects. The High Commissioner met with a large number of indigenous peoples’ representatives both in Geneva and during her country visits, including to Australia in May 2011, Mexico in July 2011 and Guatemala in March 2012. The Deputy High Commissioner has also addressed indigenous peoples’ rights during her visits to Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay and in other contexts. 5. OHCHR has also played an active role in the efforts to raise the profile of indigenous peoples in the context of the Human Rights Council, including through its support to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (discussed below) and by organizing, during the eighteenth session of the Human Rights Council in September 2011, the first ever Human Rights Council panel on indigenous peoples’ issues, devoted to indigenous peoples languages and cultures. A. United Nations Indigenous Peoples Partnership Initiative 6. OHCHR continued to play an active role in various inter-agency initiatives, including in the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues. In addition, the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Partnership Initiative became fully operational in 2011. This joint initiative 3