A/HRC/32/26 23. Among the proposals on how to strengthen interaction with the United Nations human rights system in general, several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives mentioned the Expert Mechanism’s role in following-up on selected recommendations from the human rights system, including the universal periodic review and the treaty bodies. 24. Several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives called for the Expert Mechanism to strengthen its interaction with other mechanisms and organizations, including specialized agencies such as the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization and mechanisms dealing with climate change and biodiversity. One delegate suggested enhancing interaction with multilateral processes, including those related to the World Bank safeguard policies and the Sustainable Development Goals. 25. One participant suggested institutionalizing meetings with the Under-SecretaryGeneral appointed by the Secretary-General as the senior official of the United Nations system responsible for coordinating follow-up action for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. He also called for the permanent participation of the Expert Mechanism in the work of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues and suggested biennial reporting to the General Assembly. One delegate cautioned against formalizing participation in and interaction with other mechanisms and working groups. V. Exploring new areas of work 26. Several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives called for the Expert Mechanism to have a stronger and clearer mandate, one that explicitly had the Declaration as its guiding normative framework. One participant said that the Expert Mechanism could focus on interpreting specific provisions of the Declaration and on facilitating their implementation, and called for the mandate to be flexible and not too constraining. 27. Some participants said that the core function of the Expert Mechanism should be to carry out an oversight function and provide follow-up to address the implementation gap of the Declaration, to assist States with implementation and to address human rights violations against indigenous peoples. Two participants cautioned against overstretching the Expert Mechanism and called for a focus on its core mandate and functions. 28. Participants called upon States to provide greater support to the Expert Mechanism and underlined the importance of States attending the annual session. One delegate said that it was possible to improve the Expert Mechanism without changing the mandate, by for example enhancing the participation of States. 29. It was also suggested that, in order to promote the implementation of the Declaration, the members of the Expert Mechanism should be able to make authoritative interpretations of its provisions, including in general annual reports. One delegate said that the Expert Mechanism should be able to make recommendations and issue general comments on the Declaration and gather information from all sources, including the treaty bodies, the universal periodic review and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Another delegate said that the Expert Mechanism should engage with States and indigenous peoples at the country level and give pointed recommendations and advice in respect of actual cases of concern, without taking on tasks similar to those of the treaty bodies. 30. Some participants said that the Expert Mechanism should be able to make substantial recommendations. One participant underlined that the Expert Mechanism should not develop the same kind of authority as a complaints mechanism or a court. Another 6