A/HRC/21/23 III. Human rights bodies and mechanisms A. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 24. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held its fourth session in July 2011. In addition to discussing the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Expert Mechanism adopted its final report on its study on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making, including its advice No. 2 (2011) on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making. The study, together with a number of proposals made by the Expert Mechanism, was presented to the Human Rights Council at its eighteenth session in September 2011, which for the first time included an interactive dialogue with representatives of the Expert Mechanism. 25. In March 2012, OHCHR organized an expert workshop on indigenous peoples’ languages and cultures in cooperation with the University of Brunel Law School. The main objective of the workshop was to obtain additional substantive input to the thematic study of the Expert Mechanism on the role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identity of indigenous peoples, to be discussed at the fifth session of the Expert Mechanism in July 2012. 26. The Expert Mechanism undertook a number of intersessional activities, including contributions to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the UNESCO consultation about its engagement with indigenous peoples, the Forum on Minority Issues, preliminary meetings associated with the organization of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the tenth and eleventh session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues. Moreover, the Expert Mechanism established an informal academic friendship network with academics working on indigenous peoples’ issues at the domestic and international level. B. Special procedures and treaty bodies 27. The various activities that the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples has carried out in the past year fall into four areas of work: promoting good practices, country reports, responding to cases of alleged human rights violations and thematic studies. With respect to the promotion of good practices, the Special Rapporteur participated, for example in discussions with indigenous leaders and Government officials in Peru and Brazil on the development of mechanisms for consultations with indigenous peoples. 28. With respect to his examination of cases of human rights violations, the Special Rapporteur received a high number of allegations of violations of the rights of indigenous peoples in specific situations and has on numerous occasions communicated his concerns about the allegations to the Governments concerned. Over the past year, the Special Rapporteur has carried out two country visits: to Argentina in November and December 2011 and to the United States of America in April and May 2012. In terms of his thematic work, the Special Rapporteur is focusing on the issue of extractive industries operating in or near indigenous peoples’ territories. 29. The Special Rapporteur continued to cooperate with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. They met to share work agendas, identify the strengths and limitations of their respective mandates, and explore methods of channelling their work in the most effective way. 30. During the reporting period, other special procedure mandate holders also looked into the situation of indigenous peoples within their respective mandates. For example, the Special 8