A/HRC/6/15 page 20 64. The rights and principles enshrined in the Declaration mesh with the general principles of the rights-based approach. Under the Declaration, the rights-based approach entails respect for the principles of self-determination of indigenous peoples in the context of development: namely, their free, prior and informed consent; participation and empowerment; autonomy and self-management; the strengthened control of their lands; and non-discrimination. V. RECOMMENDATIONS 65. In the light of the above considerations, the Special Rapporteur submits the following recommendations to Governments and, in particular, agencies responsible for social policy and development; United Nations agencies and international organizations; international financial institutions and aid agencies; domestic and international non-governmental organizations; and indigenous organizations and the indigenous peoples themselves. A. General recommendations 66. The development and implementation of public policies must be guided by the rights enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ILO Convention No. 169 and other international instruments and by the jurisprudence of the human rights bodies. 67. The objectives of social and development policies and programmes designed for indigenous peoples must be to promote respect for and guarantee compliance with the human rights, individual and collective, of these peoples. Accordingly, these programmes and policies must be formulated and evaluated in terms of their contribution to meeting that goal. This necessitates the development, in cooperation with indigenous peoples, of operational criteria which draw together the activities of the various stakeholders involved, and of indicators to measure the impact of those activities. 68. On no account should development activities be allowed to run counter to the general principles of the human rights of indigenous peoples. Accordingly, there must be a requirement for the conduct of social, cultural and environmental impact studies for projects to be carried out in the lands and areas occupied by indigenous peoples. 69. Social and development policies and programmes relating to indigenous peoples must be based on the free, prior and informed consent of the communities concerned. These communities must be effectively involved in identifying priorities and in designing, implementing and evaluating the development activities intended to help strengthen their capacities and those of their organizations. Priority must be given to development initiatives identified and defined by the indigenous peoples themselves. 70. The design of social and development policies and programmes intended for indigenous peoples must take due account of the individual and collective rights situation of these communities involved, with a view to uncovering the underlying causes of discrimination, exclusion and marginalization. In this process, efforts must be made to identify the holders of these rights, with special attention to the vulnerable and marginalized groups within the indigenous communities, and also the relevant duty bearers.