A/HRC/42/55 64. Ms. Yamada introduced the draft study on recognition, reparation and reconciliation. She indicated that the Expert Mechanism had received over 20 submissions from indigenous peoples’ organizations, Member States, academics, United Nations agencies and other stakeholders for the completion of the study. 65. Ms. Yamada noted that the study set out four guiding principles on recognition, reparation, and reconciliation: (a) The recognition of indigenous peoples, as well as reparation and reconciliation relating to past and current injustices, as essential elements for the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the central role of the Declaration as an instrument to pursue recognition, reparations and reconciliation; (b) The need to approach any process of reparation and reconciliation from an indigenous perspective, taking into account cultural specificities, including the spiritual connection of indigenous peoples to their lands, their traditions related to identifying and healing injuries and their right to participate fully and effectively in decision-making; (c) Recognition, reparation and reconciliation as a means of addressing colonization and its long-term effects, and of overcoming challenges with deep historical roots; (d) Recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination (including free, prior and informed consent), their rights to autonomy and political participation, their claims to their lands and the recognition of indigenous juridical systems and customary laws should be considered an essential part of recognition, reparation and reconciliation. 66. Ms. Yamada added that the concepts of reparation and reconciliation should be seen from an intergenerational and collective point of view and stressed that apologies and other measures of satisfaction were worthy of note, but that they should then be transferred into tangible change when it came to respecting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. Any process for truth-telling, as well as remedies for past violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, must be undertaken with their full participation, consultation and consent, and with attention to their own laws, traditions and protocols regarding narrative, justice and healing. 67. Following Ms. Yamada’s introduction of the report, participants provided comments. Some participants emphasized the urgent need for full and effective participation of the indigenous peoples concerned and their representative institutions in the initiatives for recognition, reparation and reconciliation. It was emphasized that those initiatives needed to be aligned with international standards on the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, it was suggested that truth-telling initiatives could assist in identifying measures to give full effect to the right to self-determination and address the long-term effects of genocide and colonization. States were also encouraged to implement national awareness-raising measures that adequately explained the basis for and benefit of full recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples. 68. Specific recommendations were made by State representatives, indigenous peoples and NGOs, including more robust legal recognition of indigenous peoples, protection of the archives of truth-telling forums for future generations and the promulgation of an international decade of the world’s indigenous languages, given the crucial role of languages in reparation and reconciliation. XI. Dialogue on implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 69. Member of the Expert Mechanism Rodion Sulyandziga led the discussions on item 8, which consisted of a dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, member of the Human Rights 13