UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/4/77 6 March 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on indigenous issues∗ Summary The present report updates the earlier report of the High Commissioner (E/CN.4/2006/77) and provides information on the principal developments relating to indigenous peoples in 2006 under the aegis of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including activities at the country level. The report notes that indigenous peoples remain among the poorest sectors of society in the countries in which they live, notwithstanding progress in legal protection and recognition through national legislation and international norms. The implementation gap - the disparity between established rights and their practical application - constitutes a significant challenge for Governments and the international community, and is further analysed by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people in his present and previous reports (A/HRC/4/32 and E/CN.4/2006/78 respectively). The report concludes by noting that indigenous issues are increasingly mainstreamed into the work of the human rights mechanisms and the technical cooperation activities of OHCHR. It also acknowledges the ongoing discussions to develop universal standards on the rights of indigenous peoples. ∗ This document is submitted late so as to include the most up-to-date information possible. GE.07-11314 (E) 110307