A/HRC/32/26 17. Participants made specific suggestions for ways to enhance coordination, for example by issuing joint statements, coordinating studies and cooperating through a multiyear workplan. Cooperation with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was highlighted, but it was also noted that human rights was just one of six thematic issues that the Permanent Forum was mandated to address. 18. The relationship between the Special Rapporteur and the Expert Mechanism was the subject of much discussion. The Special Rapporteur underlined the many human rights challenges facing indigenous peoples and stressed that she was overwhelmed by the dire situation they faced and the many requests she had received. She suggested broadening the mandate of the Expert Mechanism to include country-specific situations and encouraged the Expert Mechanism to develop a database of recommendations on indigenous peoples from other United Nations mechanisms (such as the special procedures, the universal periodic review and the treaty bodies). 19. Several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives supported the idea of enhancing cooperation between the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur. One State representative suggested developing a referral system so that both mechanisms could refer specific issues to each other, including on urgent situations, and follow up and report on the achievement of the ends of the Declaration. That proposal was supported by several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives. One participant suggested formalizing coordination with the Special Rapporteur prior to her country visits and the Special Rapporteur proposed that the Expert Mechanism play a role in the follow-up to recommendations. 20. One State representative proposed merging the mandate of the Special Rapporteur with that of the Expert Mechanism, to enhance and elevate the role of the body and avoid duplication. The proposal included expanding the Expert Mechanism’s mandate, so that the Mechanism could assist States in addressing country situations and provide expert advice, and having the Special Rapporteur chair the Expert Mechanism. A number of participants shared the overall goal of enhancing the impact and status of the Expert Mechanism but did not agree that merging the two mandates would be the way to reach that goal. In particular, concerns were expressed about the risk that such a merger might undermine the scope of action and current mandates of the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur. One participant suggested that other ways of strengthening the institutional links between the two mandates could be explored, including the possibility of giving the Special Rapporteur a seat in the Expert Mechanism. 21. One participant suggested expanding the scope of interaction to other special procedure mandate holders involved in the protection and promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights, including the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, the Special Rapporteur on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. 22. A number of proposals were made on strengthening interaction with other mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, including the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, which was highlighted by several State and indigenous peoples’ representatives. One delegate suggested establishing closer links with the open-ended intergovernmental working group to draft a United Nations declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. Other suggestions included strengthening interaction with the President and Bureau of the Council through annual meetings, as well as with the regional groups of the Council, and participating in the annual meeting of special procedures mandate holders. 5