The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions KEY POINTS: CHAPTER 10 • Conducting a public inquiry on indigenous peoples’ human rights allows NHRIs to perform several functions simultaneously. It can be very effective mechanism for law and policy reform. However, public inquiries also pose challenges that should be considered before a decision is made to proceed. • Undertaking an effective public inquiry on indigenous peoples’ human rights involves a number of steps, including defining the inquiry’s terms of reference, research and analysis, collecting complaints, holding public hearings, interviewing indigenous peoples, preparing a report and followup after the report is launched. 98 | Chapter 10: Public inquiries