Part II National human rights institutions’ domestic activities and functions Indigenous peoples’ organizations can provide expertise to the NHRI to ensure that its activities to engage indigenous peoples are properly targeted and are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Furthermore, cooperative relationships with indigenous peoples’ organizations can help foster a perception of legitimacy of the NHRI and its work in the eyes of the relevant indigenous peoples. This can help break down a possible reluctance to engage with the NHRI. The need for cooperative engagement with indigenous peoples’ organizations is discussed in more detail in Chapter 7, in the context of the promotional activities of NHRIs. 3. CREATING AN INDIGENOUS PRESENCE WITHIN NHRIs In addition to cooperative engagement with indigenous peoples’ organizations, the staffing composition of NHRIs should reflect the diversity of their constituencies. It is particularly important that vulnerable groups, including indigenous peoples, are represented in the workforce of NHRIs and are consulted on activities and policies of NHRIs which impact on indigenous rights and indigenous communities. Workforce representation needs to occur throughout the organization, including at decision-making levels.171 As far as possible, NHRIs should advertise vacancies widely outside of capital cities so that indigenous candidates living in rural areas have the opportunity to apply for vacancies. Once appointed, indigenous staff can be a valuable source of knowledge for NHRIs regarding issues, customs and cultural sensitivities of indigenous peoples. Indigenous NHRI staff can also help indigenous communities to better understand the role and functions of the NHRI. However, the mere presence of indigenous staff in NHRIs may not be sufficient to gain the trust of indigenous communities. To better ensure that indigenous staff are seen as credible appointees, NHRIs should ensure that the recruitment of indigenous staff is carried out in an open, fair and consultative manner.172 Within the Procurador de los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala is the Office for the Protection of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Office was created in 1998 with the aim of defining policies and general strategies for the Ombudsman to confront violations of indigenous peoples’ human rights. This includes violations of collective rights. The Ombudsman employs 51 indigenous staff who can speak their mother tongue, which assists the institution to receive complaints made by indigenous people in their own language.172 Employment programmes and targeted hiring policies to attract indigenous peoples can be effective tools to enhance an indigenous “presence” within NHRIs. 171 See the New Delhi Guidelines on the establishment of National Institutions on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, available at www. aitpn.org/NIRIPS/new_delhi_guidelines.pdf. 172 Response to OHCHR questionnaire on possible good practices in addressing the rights of indigenous peoples. Chapter 6: Accessibility of NHRIs to indigenous peoples | 49