A/HRC/15/34 III. A. 1. Human rights bodies and mechanisms Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Studies and research-based advice 43. Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 9/7, the expert mechanism prepared a study on lessons learned and challenges to achieving the implementation of the right of indigenous peoples to education (A/HRC/12/33). The study encompasses (a) a human rights-based analysis of the scope and content of the right to education; (b) indigenous education systems and institutions; (c) lessons learned; (d) challenges and measures to achieve the implementation of the right of indigenous peoples to education; and (e) Expert Mechanism advice No. 1 on the right of indigenous peoples to education. It was submitted to the Council at its twelfth session together with the report of the mechanism’s 2009 session, which contained proposals to the Council for its consideration and approval, in particular concerning a thematic study on indigenous peoples’ right to participate in decision-making. 44. In its resolution 12/13, the Council requested the Expert Mechanism to carry out a study on indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making, and to present a progress report to the Council at its fifteenth session and a final study to the eighteenth session. The expert mechanism has prepared an advanced version of the progress report to be discussed at its third session in July 2010. A large number of national human rights institutions, United Nations agencies and NGOs, as well as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, provided substantive input to the progress report. 2. Other activities 45. The expert mechanism participated in various activities with a view to enhancing cooperation with and avoiding duplicating the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in accordance with paragraph 5 of Council resolution 6/36. The expert mechanism has participated actively in the eighth and ninth sessions of the Permanent Forum, while the Special Rapporteur and representatives of the Permanent Forum attended and contributed to the second and third annual sessions of the expert mechanism. 46. In addition, the expert mechanism participated in the International seminar of experts on Implementing Indigenous Peoples Rights on the role of the United Nations mechanisms with specific mandate regarding the rights of indigenous peoples, organized by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and the Almáciga Intercultural Group in 2009, and the meeting of the three United Nations Mechanisms with a specific mandate to address indigenous issues and their secretariats, organized in January 2010 by OHCHR and the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 47. The expert mechanism further made a substantial contribution to the work of the Permanent Forum by taking part in the two international expert group meetings organized by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum, respectively on the role of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in the implementation of article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (January 2009) and indigenous peoples – development with culture and identity – articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (January 2010). 10