The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Introduction to Part II The primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ human rights resides with States.163 By definition, NHRIs play a pivotal role in assisting their State to meet its human rights obligations. They can play a crucial role in advocating, lobbying and advising the State and others, such as corporations, to uphold their responsibilities.164 NHRIs can play an important role in raising public awareness of human rights issues and have strategic opportunities to collaborate with indigenous peoples’ organizations and other NGOs to address indigenous peoples’ human rights issues. NHRIs also monitor State compliance with national and international human rights standards and many have complaint handling and investigatory functions. Finally, NHRIs are uniquely placed to engage with the international human rights system, both in contributing to international reporting processes and disseminating relevant information domestically. Part II of this Manual describes the practical actions that NHRIs can take to advance the rights of indigenous peoples, as articulated in the Declaration. 44 163 It should be remembered that the role of corporations – particularly transnational corporations – is coming under increasing spotlight by the human rights sphere. See, for example, A/HRC/15/37, paras. 26-91. 164 APF, Advisory Council of Jurists Reference on Human Rights, Corporate Accountability and Government Responsibility (2008).