A/HRC/42/55 37. The Chief of the Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch highlighted the following issues: the proposal for an international decade of indigenous languages as supported by the United Nations system, including UNESCO and OHCHR; the importance of the right to life in the context of a dignified life with regard to indigenous peoples; and the study on recognition, reparation and reconciliation as an indication of many examples of how dignity has been upheld. In addition, she referred to the country mandate of the Expert Mechanism as a valuable opportunity to bring States and indigenous peoples together in dignity and rights, and to resolve issues of mutual importance. Finally, she encouraged indigenous peoples and States to accept future country engagement missions so that the Mechanism could fully achieve its new mandate and objectives. C. Election of officers 38. The outgoing Chair of the Expert Mechanism, Ms. Yamada, invited the members of the Mechanism to nominate a Chair-Rapporteur and Vice-Chairs for the period 2019–2020. Ms. Vars nominated Ms. Carpenter as Chair-Rapporteur and Ms. Davis and Mr. Mansayagan as Vice-Chairs. All three were appointed by acclamation. V. Study on indigenous peoples in the context of borders, migration and displacement 39. On opening agenda item 3, the Chair-Rapporteur stated that the Expert Mechanism looked forward to receiving the views of indigenous peoples, States and United Nations mechanisms and agencies on the draft study on borders, migration and displacement. She welcomed the recommendations of indigenous peoples and other stakeholders as essential to completing the study. 40. The Chair-Rapporteur introduced the draft study. She reported that the Expert Mechanism had received over 50 submissions from indigenous peoples’ organizations, Member States, academics, United Nations agencies and other stakeholders for the completion of the study. 41. The Chair-Rapporteur noted that the study addressed the challenges that indigenous peoples faced when they migrated, both voluntarily and involuntarily, and called attention to the various articles of the Declaration on Indigenous Peoples that call for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in those contexts. Historically, voluntary migration has long been a part of the traditional ways of life of certain indigenous peoples for subsistence and cultural reasons. While those patterns of movement had become more difficult with the introduction of borders between States, article 36 of the Declaration recognized that indigenous peoples had the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation across borders for various purposes, and that States must take effective measures to ensure the implementation of that right. 42. The Chair-Rapporteur noted that the study also identified the socioeconomic factors that led to migration in other circumstances, such as disproportionate rates of poverty, a lack of land and structural factors, including inequality and access to health, education and housing. The different forms of forced movement, caused by non-recognition of indigenous peoples were additional challenges examined in the study. As for movement across international borders, the detention of indigenous peoples and the separation of children from their parents was a major challenge. Border authorities often lacked understanding of indigenous peoples, a situation which could create distrust and conflict between the authorities and indigenous migrants. Furthermore, the often vulnerable situation of women, children, persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex persons was stressed, including their exposure to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in the context of migration and border issues. 43. A number of participants focused on preventive measures to minimize forced migration and create the conditions for indigenous peoples to remain on their lands in line with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the rights to self- 8