The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – and indigenous children and youth

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has always had a special focus on indigenous children and youth. In 2003, the Permanent Forum made “Indigenous Children and Youth” the main theme of its second session (E.C.19/2003/22) and has ever since been issuing recommendations on this issue during each annual session. Following its mandate to provide expert advice and make recommendations to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN system and others, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has raised awareness by highlighting the situation of indigenous children and youth and called for action by Member States, UN agencies and other stakeholders.

To view the Permanent Forum Recommendations on Indigenous Children and Youth, click here.

Expert Group Meetings on Indigenous youth

In 2013, an expert meeting took place under the theme “International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Youth: Identity, Challenges and Hope: Articles 14, 17, 21 and 25 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, which gives an overview of the situation of indigenous youth and provides recommendations on how to progress.

In 2016, the UNPFII in its annual session report issued a new recommendation, calling on the UN system to support Member States in implementation of the recommendations from the expert group meeting in 2013.

Read more about the meeting and the outcomes here.