A/HRC/8/4 page 21 freedom from attachment of their assets, or they may simply invoke emergency regulations of a budgetary nature in order to avoid or defer compliance, particularly in the area of social security. F. Difficulties experienced by specific groups 48. Under the umbrella of the principle of equality, the law must try to treat all citizens as equal before the law while also taking account of the differences between them. In order to attend to this diversity, guaranteeing everyone the right to equal access to independent courts means making special provision for certain population groups and offering them differentiated protection.57 The lack of public policies to eliminate obstacles to access to justice for all has a greater impact on groups in a vulnerable situation or living in extreme poverty,58 or who are culturally, economically or socially disadvantaged.59 1. Indigenous peoples 49. The areas where indigenous peoples are most vulnerable are labour and land, where there are no judicial mechanisms to ensure protection of their rights. In the course of some country visits, the Special Rapporteur observed not only a lack of adequate procedural mechanisms, but also that the judicial workers who devote themselves to these issues are subjected to threats and attacks.60 These problems go hand in hand - notwithstanding certain interesting developments61 - with the marginalization of indigenous peoples’ customary approaches to 57 J.M. Casal, et al., Derechos humanos, equidad y acceso a la justicia, Ed. Instituto latinoamericano de Investigaciones, Caracas, 2005, p.114; N. Gherardi, “Notas sobre acceso a la justicia y servicios jurídicos gratuitos en experiencias comparadas: ¿un especio de asistencia posible para las mujeres?”, Acceso a la justicia como garantía de igualdad, Buenos Aires: Biblos, 2006, p. 9. 58 Vid. Informes sobre “Los derechos humanos y la extrema pobreza”, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/19; E/CN.4/Sub.2/1995/15, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1996/13. 59 J.H. Lam, “The rise on the NGO in Bangaldesh: lesson on improving access to justice for women and religious per cent minorities”, George Washington Law Review, núm 38, p. 121-122. 60 61 L. Despouy, Misión a Brasil, E/CN.4/2005/60/Add.3, p. 2. En Perú, las decisiones de los Jueces de Paz son aprobadas por el sistema judicial formal, suponiendo un avance interesante, puesto que crea confianza en la población por la cercanía de los mismos. (F. Blandón, “Acceso a la justicia en el Perú”, Acceso a la justicia y equidad. Estudio de siete países de Latinoamérica, San José: Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, 2000, pp. 270-273). En Nueva Zelanda el Tribunal de Waitangi permite a la población indígena presentar denuncias sobre cuestiones como la tierra y los recursos naturales, y ha tenido un importante impacto en la manera de entender las relaciones jurídicas con la población autóctona del país. (www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports) Otra posible acción es la de crear servicios de asesoría jurídica gratuita destinados particularmente a las poblaciones indígenas. En algunos casos, dichos servicios, pese a existir, afrontan graves problemas. N. Gillespie, “Is