A/HRC/45/22 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 42/19 concerning human rights and indigenous peoples, the Human Rights Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to submit to it an annual report on the rights of indigenous peoples containing information on relevant developments in human rights bodies and mechanisms and the activities undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at headquarters and in the field that contribute to the promotion of, respect for and full application of the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 2. The present report is focused on some illustrative examples of OHCHR activities and initiatives undertaken at the country, regional and global levels that contribute to the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples. It also contains an outline of recent developments within United Nations human rights bodies and mechanisms pertaining to indigenous peoples. II. Overview of the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and recent developments in human rights bodies and mechanisms 3. Towards the end of the period under review, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had spread across the world and had made plain the continued vulnerability of indigenous peoples. Where statistical data is available, it shows that indigenous peoples were among those most affected within the States they inhabit. Despite the clear articulation of the norms providing protection to indigenous peoples, there is a wide gap between those norms and their implementation. Although closing that gap has been among the objectives advanced through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, that goal is far from achieved. The global health crisis further highlighted that the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in matters that concern them, including in the elaboration of responses to pandemics, is a human rights responsibility that many States, in which indigenous peoples live, are still failing to meet. 4. In order to address those concerns, OHCHR has continued to provide guidance and technical assistance to Member States, indigenous peoples, civil society organizations and United Nations bodies. Particular attention has been given to strengthening States’ efforts to involve indigenous peoples in national and international initiatives that concern them. 5. During the reporting period, the rights of indigenous peoples were included in the recommendations of a number of human rights treaty bodies and in the reports, communications and other activities of special procedure mandate holders, including on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasized the need to ensure that all those whose decisions impact the rights of indigenous peoples, from State authorities to business enterprises to international financial institutions, are familiar with the standards set forth in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in international human rights treaties. A. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the rights of indigenous peoples 6. The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting indigenous peoples, exacerbating underlying structural inequalities and pervasive discrimination. The serious impacts must be specifically addressed in the response to the aftermath of the crisis.1 OHCHR 1 2 See www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/un-desa-policy-brief-70-the-impact-of-covid19-on-indigenous-peoples/.