A/HRC/32/36/Add.1 Cases of sexual harassment 49. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur was alerted to a number of cases involving allegations of sexual harassment against female students and Mapuche demonstrators detained during protests. 50. In a number of instances, women apprehended by the police in the context of protests were beaten on their private parts or ordered while in detention to strip naked and perform degrading physical exercises in front of officers. For instance, a 22-year-old female Mapuche demonstrator was arrested during a protest in front of the Governor’s building in Temuco and taken to a police station where she was beaten and forced to undress in front of officers. Some victims filed complaints and the cases were brought before the military court; however, they were dismissed as the perpetrators could not be identified. In other cases, the Public Prosecutor allegedly did not have enough evidence to initiate court proceedings. 51. The Special Rapporteur was also informed by civil society that a number of cases of sexual harassment are not reported because the victims feel ashamed, because impunity for the perpetrators prevails, or simply because women are unaware that abusive body searches, derogatory comments or threats of sexual violence constitute sexual harassment. It is also likely that the culture of impunity regarding sexual harassment leads some women to accept that such acts constitute a natural consequence of their participation in protests. 52. The Special Rapporteur finds these claims deeply troubling. He raised these concerns with the General Director of the Carabineros, who, at the time of the visit, was only aware of one case of sexual harassment in which a police officer was subsequently sanctioned. The General Director also mentioned that female police officers have been trained to deal with female protestors on the front line. The Special Rapporteur notes that, in response to the claims of sexual harassment and abuse, the Chilean authorities allow INDH representatives to monitor detention facilities. He looks forward to resolute action to hold all perpetrators accountable. 53. Regrettably, the Special Rapporteur received disconcerting allegations of sexual harassment after his visit. On 11 March 2016, a group of peaceful protestors demonstrating in the vicinity of the presidential palace against recent instances of femicide in the country was dispersed by the police who reportedly used excessive force. Female protestors were beaten and insulted by police officers and nine of them were taken to a police station. It is reported that police officers sexually assaulted some of the detainees and touched their private parts. INDH wrote to the General Director of the Carabineros with regard to this case. 54. The Special Rapporteur is appalled by these latest allegations. He urges the police to shed light on this case and to investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators, and, more generally, to combat all acts of sexual harassment against female protestors and sanction perpetrators appropriately. Situation of indigenous peoples 55. The Special Rapporteur travelled to Temuco, in the Araucanía Region, to look into the particular challenges faced by the indigenous Mapuche community in exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly. He met with Mapuche representatives from different communities, farmers and local authorities. Assembly rights are mainly exercised by the Mapuche in the context of land disputes with farmers. These demonstrations take place in a very tense and volatile environment, as the issue of indigenous land rights is a complex, emotional topic that stretches back more than 200 years. 11