Article 8(j) - Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Expert Mechanism provides the Human Rights Council with expertise and advice on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It assists Member States in achieving the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Expert Mechanism conducts studies to advance the promotion and protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights by:

  1. clarifying the implications of key principles, such as self-determination and free, prior and informed consent;
  2. examining good practices and challenges in a broad array of areas pertaining to Indigenous Peoples’ rights; and
  3. suggesting measures that States and others can adopt at the level of laws, policies and programmes.

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples