In July 2013, members of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), along with representatives of States, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, human rights institutions, academics and UN Bodies gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Sixth Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The five-day session convened around several discussions that endorsed the Alta Outcome Document as the official document for the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples; addressed the implementation and accountability of the UN Declaration on the Rig

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, submitted his annual report to the Human Rights Council about the impacts of extractive industries operating on or near Indigenous People's lands.

From July 11 to 15, 2011, more than 100 Indigenous nations, peoples, and organizations met with representatives from 34 countries in Geneva at the fourth meeting of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The mechanism was created in 2007 by the UN Human Rights Council to provide the council with expert advice on the state of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

On March 15, the United Nations General Assembly voted 170–4 to create a new Human Rights Council, effectively dissolving the oft-criticized Commission on Human Rights. Candidates for the Council will need to be elected by an absolute majority of 96 votes in order to secure a position, and once elected members can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.