A/HRC/21/24 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 2 July 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-first session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Ways and means of promoting participation at the United Nations of indigenous peoples’ representatives on issues affecting them Report of the Secretary-General Summary In the present report, ways and means of promoting participation at the United Nations of indigenous peoples’ representatives are described. First, a summary is presented of reasons why indigenous peoples’ representatives may find it difficult to participate in the United Nations and why their participation is desirable. Second, details are provided of existing United Nations rules and practices in relation to the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and non-State actors. The report includes a description of arrangements adopted to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives in bodies mandated by the United Nations that focus specifically on indigenous peoples’ issues, irrespective of whether they have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as non-governmental organizations. Third, possible ways forward in terms of developing a procedure to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives in the United Nations are outlined. Lastly, issues that would need to be considered in order to implement a procedure to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives in the United Nations are discussed. GE.12-14840