A/HRC/42/19
52.
In March 2019, the country office published a manual intended as a teaching tool on
collective land titling processes to clarify the current process for national and subnational
authorities, for communities of indigenous peoples undergoing the process and for civil
society organizations assisting them.
53.
In Guatemala, the OHCHR office provided technical assistance to the indigenous
authorities in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá Department, and assisted in their dialogue
with the Ministry of Education to design a plan for the implementation of bilingual and
intercultural education in the community, in line with a 2016 judgment of the Constitutional
Court.
54.
The OHCHR presence in Kenya provided technical advice to the National Bureau of
Statistics for the collection of data on indigenous persons, to be included in the upcoming
national census, by compiling a list of treaty body recommendations that required the
Government to collect data on indigenous persons to ensure they had the opportunity for
self-identification. As a result, the census has a data-collection tool that incorporates
indigenous issues.
55.
In August 2018, the OHCHR office in Mexico carried out a mission to Chihuahua to
participate in the process of a contingency plan where rights holders, civil society
organizations and the authorities discussed measures and actions related to economic, social
and cultural rights, including access to water and health for various indigenous and rural
communities. In February 2019, in the framework of International Mother Language Day,
the office published six short audiovisual products in indigenous languages on social
networks.
56.
In September 2018, the OHCHR office in Uganda joined the Equal Opportunities
Commission and representatives of indigenous peoples in handing over a petition to the
Speaker of Parliament on the issues affecting the rights of indigenous peoples. The
concerns expressed in the petition included the lack of legal tools and statistics to inform
appropriate strategic interventions, the limited use of indigenous languages in public places
such as schools, and the difficulties in accessing education and health owing to
marginalization.
57.
The OHCHR Regional Office for South America provided advice to Machi
Celestino Córdova, a Mapuche spiritual leader deprived of liberty in Chile, and supported
his claim before the penitentiary authorities for his rights to health and freedom of religion.
As a result, he was given permission to leave prison in order to carry out a spiritual renewal
ceremony in his community of origin. The Regional Office also supported the United
Nations country team in Brazil in building a web campaign celebrating the International
Day of Indigenous Peoples. In October 2018, the Regional Office organized a training
session in Brazil for 30 representatives of indigenous peoples on the international human
rights system.
58.
The Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
highlighted the need for targeted policies for the proper inclusion of indigenous peoples in
access to water and sanitation services and the need for indigenous peoples to receive
appropriate services, compatible with their cultural values. The Special Rapporteur on the
rights of persons with disabilities paid dedicated attention to the situation of indigenous
persons with disabilities during her visit to Canada in April 2019, drawing attention to the
disparities in the enjoyment of rights by indigenous persons with disabilities, including the
lack of access to basic services, and encouraging constructive consultations between the
federal Government and the indigenous governments concerning the application of federal
accessibility legislation, funding and the delivery of services for indigenous persons with
disabilities on reserves.
59.
The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the right to the
highest standard of attainable physical and mental health observed cross-cutting risk factors
that affected the health of indigenous peoples and the need to develop culturally appropriate
responses.
60.
Recommendations arising from the universal periodic review on the social and
cultural rights of indigenous peoples were consistently addressed to the issue of health and
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