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Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Link to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The inaugural meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a new United Nations body, was held in NY 13 May 2002.
From the UN Press Release:
This is the first time that indigenous voices will be heard at such a high level by the world Organization. The new Forum represents an historic advance in indigenous peoples’ efforts to reach the ear of the international community and make their needs and concerns known. While they have made steady progress at the United Nations -- from their first approach to the League of Nations, to the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the subsequent establishment of the International Decade -- the creation of the Forum as a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council is a breakthrough achievement.
To date, over 900 indigenous peoples from all regions of the world -- from the tropical forests of Amazonia and Central Africa, the Pacific Islands, East Africa, the Arctic, the Australian desert and the temperate regions of the Americas, Inuit, Tuareg, Saami, Maori, Mapuche, Igorots, Aboriginal people, Native Americans, Kuna and many other peoples -- have registered to attend the Forum and take the opportunity to raise their voices in the two-week meeting. All who attend may make statements to the 16 members, and through them, to the world. The establishment of such an entity has long been a goal for indigenous peoples, and was first suggested by the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.
Never before have indigenous peoples served as “independent experts” on a United Nations body, and this Permanent Forum, composed of eight “indigenous experts” and eight experts elected by the Economic and Social Council, will report and make recommendations directly to the Council. Each member will serve for a three-year term, with the possibility of serving one additional term. The independent experts will not function as representatives of their peoples, but rather in their own capacities. The selection process, particularly of those nominated by indigenous groups, requires broad regional consultations with indigenous groups around the world.
The mandate of the Forum is to advise and make recommendations to the Economic and Social Council on economic and social development, culture, human rights, the environment, education and health. In addition to advising the Council, the Forum has been asked to raise awareness, promote the integration and coordination of activities relating to indigenous issues within the United Nations system, and prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues. It will meet once each year for 10 working days. States, United Nations bodies and organs, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and organizations of indigenous people may participate as observers. At this 2002 session, under the agenda item, “General debate”, it is expected that all observers will be allowed to make short statements. Future practice regarding statements by observers has not yet been determined. Among the items on the provisional agenda is “Adoption of rules of procedure”, which rules are expected to apply to future sessions.
The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by the Economic and Social Council, on the recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights. The distribution of governmental seats is based on the five United Nations regional groups, with three additional seats rotating among the regions. This term, the three regional groups of Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe and Asia each have two seats. Indigenous people have nominated their candidates on the basis of seven geo-cultural regions that they have devised to more accurately reflect cultural regions, with one rotating seat.
The Mandate of the Permanent Forum
Quoted from http://www.unhchr.ch/indigenous/history.htm
The purpose of the Permanent Forum is to serve as an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council, with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues relating to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
The Permanent Forum shall:
Provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the UN through the Council;
Raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities relating to indigenous issues within the UN system; and
Prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.
The Forum meets once a year for ten working days and submits an annual report to the Council on its activities, including any recommendations for approval. The report is also distributed to relevant UN organs, funds, programmes and agencies as a way of furthering the dialogue on indigenous issues within the UN system.
The Forum is comprised of 16 independent experts, 8 of whom are nominated by governments and 8 of whom are appointed by the President of the Council, following formal consultations with governments on the basis of consultations with indigenous organizations. All members serve for a period of three years with the possibility of re-election for one additional year.
An unedited version of the Report of the First Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues may be found in PDF format at the UN website.
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