A/HRC/15/35 isolation and distance from the centre of power, continue to practise their traditional decision-making methods without interference.44 65. Even in areas where traditional decision-making institutions remain intact, there may also be interference and a lack of respect for decisions made by indigenous institutions. In most countries, for example in Asia,45 the establishment of village councils/committees responsible mainly for infrastructure development46 has compartmentalized community concerns and kept interest away from maintaining cultural integrity (social, spiritual and cultural aspects of life), directing their focus towards a different model of development. Related challenges include limited jurisdiction of indigenous institutions in deciding on matters concerning communal land and resources, divisions within indigenous communities, and conflicts where indigenous models of development and thinking are not respected or understood. Finally, there is the challenge of effective intergenerational transfer of indigenous knowledge, which further contributes to the decline of indigenous decision-making principles. 66. The deficiencies of not including women in traditional decision-making systems also need to be confronted. This challenge provides an opportunity to address issues that governments, non-governmental organizations and social scientists often highlight in relation to indigenous systems. IV. Participation in decision-making mechanisms linked to both State and relevant non-State institutions, and processes affecting indigenous peoples A. Participation in electoral politics 67. The right of indigenous peoples to participate in electoral politics is grounded in the formal legal recognition of indigenous peoples as a specific group of peoples with specific rights. Until very recently, indigenous peoples were often denied this basic recognition, and it was only in the 1960s that indigenous peoples in a number of settler societies with significant indigenous populations, such as Australia, Canada and the United States of America, finally obtained full and unrestricted citizenship rights, including the right to vote. 68. In Latin America, the return to democratic regimes by the late 1980s, coupled with the call by indigenous and other social movements for fundamental changes, saw the passing of new national constitutions that tried to establish a more favourable legislative and institutional framework for the recognition of truly multi-ethnic, multilingual and pluricultural societies, in which the right of indigenous peoples to participate in electoral processes is often the cornerstone of these changes. 69. While clear progress has been achieved in a number of countries, recognition of indigenous rights has not been universal, as many States still do not formally recognize the rights of indigenous peoples in their domestic laws.47 Indeed, very few Asian or African 44 45 46 47 Submission by AIPP (Asia Prepmeeting report). Submission by AIPP and JOAS (Malaysia). While the structure of these bodies is similar to that of the traditional council of elders - where members are selected or appointed from among community members - their aims, values and approaches are very different. Submission by the national human rights institution of El Salvador. 17