The Permanent Forum recommended the following actions in its annual session reports:
Eighteenth Session (2019)
28. Building on the recommendation contained in paragraph 16 of its report on its sixteenth session (E/2017/43-E/C.19/2017/11), the Permanent Forum strongly encourages United Nations resident coordinators and country teams to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, including indigenous women and young people, in the preparation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and country programme action plans.
29. The Permanent Forum urges Member States to provide financial support to the trust fund on indigenous issues (fund 32FII) to support the work of the Forum in implementing its mandate and to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples to facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples in key United Nations meetings and processes. The Forum recommends that States, private foundations, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs support the work of indigenous-led funding initiatives.
30. In accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Declaration, the Permanent Forum urges States to develop legislation, policies and programmes supporting traditional livelihoods with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples. In particular, the Forum urges the Government of Finland to renew the Reindeer Herding Act with the full and effective participation of the Sami people.
31. The Permanent Forum acknowledges the project of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), entitled “Linking indigenous peoples with regional development”, which involves indigenous leaders and communities in Australia, Canada and Sweden, and encourages OECD and its member States to expand the project.
58. The 2030 Agenda is now in its fourth year of implementation, yet few countries refer to indigenous peoples in their voluntary national reviews. The Permanent Forum therefore urges countries undertaking voluntary national reviews at the high-level political forum on sustainable development to include indigenous peoples under all Sustainable Development Goals.
59. The Permanent Forum expresses concern that indigenous peoples are not receiving adequate information regarding the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level and encourages Governments, United Nations entities, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations to convene workshops and other forums to ensure their effective participation in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
60. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly ensure the meaningful participation of indigenous peoples and the Forum at the meetings of the 2019 high-level political forum on sustainable development, to be convened under the auspices of the Council and the Assembly in July and September 2019, respectively. The Forum stresses that the contributions of indigenous peoples to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda should be adequately reflected in the outcome document of the high-level political forums convened under the auspices of the Council and of the Assembly.
61. The Permanent Forum reiterates the importance of data collection and disaggregation for tracking progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda to ensure that indigenous peoples, who often trail the general population on development indicators, are not left behind.
62. The Permanent Forum welcomes the study entitled “Free, prior and informed consent: a human rights-based approach” (A/HRC/39/62), prepared by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It encourages Member States, United Nations entities, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, regional development banks, the private sector, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, to use the study as guidance for understanding the principle of free, prior and informed consent when working on issues of concern to indigenous peoples. The Forum also encourages indigenous peoples to use the study to guide the development of their own community protocols on free, prior and informed consent for engaging with these stakeholders.
63. The Permanent Forum acknowledges the establishment by the World Bank of an inclusive forum for indigenous peoples to strengthen the Bank’s engagement with indigenous peoples, which should assist the Bank in implementing a human rights-based approach to development. The Forum also calls upon the Bank, in collaboration with indigenous peoples, to develop detailed guidance on the proper implementation, review and monitoring of processes on free, prior and informed consent and to ensure that its projects protect and enhance customary land tenure systems in the implementation of Environmental and Social Standard 7 and the Environmental and Social Framework approved by the World Bank in 2016.
Seventeenth Session (2018)
International expert group meeting on the theme “Sustainable development in the territories of indigenous peoples”
22. Based on a recommendation of the Permanent Forum, the United Nations organized an international expert group meeting on the theme “Sustainable development in the territories of indigenous peoples” in January 2018. The meeting recommended that the Forum should give special consideration to the experience of indigenous peoples with autonomy and constructive arrangements in their expression of self-determination, including through a compilation and dissemination of good practices.
23. The expert group meeting further recommended that the Permanent Forum should explore opportunities to work with and support indigenous peoples’ mechanisms that engage with international processes, such as the indigenous peoples major group (2030 Agenda), the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity). These are key engagement mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of indigenous peoples and their contribution in key global decision-making processes which could be strengthened through enhanced engagement with the Permanent Forum at its annual sessions and throughout the year.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
78. The 2030 Agenda is now in its third year of implementation. The Permanent Forum reiterates that countries undergoing voluntary national reviews at the high- level political forum on sustainable development should include indigenous peoples in their reviews, reports and delegations and invites States to report on good practices to the Forum at its eighteenth session.
79. Further, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal on ensuring access to affordable and modern energy for all (Goal 7) is posing threats as well as providing opportunities for indigenous peoples. The Permanent Forum encourages States to work with indigenous peoples to develop guidelines for responsible renewable energy development.
Sixteenth Session (2017)
28. Recalling article 32 of the Declaration, which recognizes that indigenous peoples have the right to “determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands or territories and other resources”, the Permanent Forum urges the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank to develop and adopt policies on indigenous peoples on the basis of the Declaration, to ensure that the programmes and projects for which they provide support respect, promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
29. The Permanent Forum welcomes the progress made in the development of community-based tools to monitor the implementation of the Declaration, the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and encourages collaboration and contributions from Governments, the agencies of the United Nations system, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations to the Indigenous Navigator framework and other tools in order to strengthen community-based monitoring of global commitments made under the Declaration, the World Conference and the Sustainable Development Goals.
30. The Permanent Forum is concerned about the recent grant by the World Bank of a waiver to its indigenous peoples policy (operational policy 4.10) and requests that the World Bank ensure that waivers will not be used in the future. Furthermore, the Forum requests that the Bank conduct a review of the impact on indigenous peoples of the waiver issued to the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania Programme and present its findings to the Forum.
31. The Permanent Forum recommends that the World Bank engage the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum in the development of guidance for the implementation of the new performance standard 7: Indigenous peoples, of the International Finance Corporation performance standards on environmental and social sustainability.
32. The Permanent Forum notes the work of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC) as a regional mechanism to provide support to indigenous peoples. The Forum encourages Member States to strengthen the institutional framework of FILAC and to create similar bodies in other regions of the world.
Fifteenth Session (2016)
32. The Permanent Forum appreciates the willingness of Envoy of the Secretary- General on Youth to make visible the situation of indigenous youth, in particular concerning suicide and self-harm, in his advocacy. The Forum calls upon Member States to implement the recommendations of the international expert group meeting on indigenous youth, held in 2013 (see E/C.19/2013/3), in collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development and with the full participation of indigenous youth. The Forum invites the Network to report on progress in this regard at the sixteenth session of the Forum. The Forum invites the Network and the Envoy to increase the participation of indigenous youth in the sessions of the Forum and all relevant United Nations forums, and to report on progress in this regard at the sixteenth session of the Forum.
33. The Permanent Forum invites the General Assembly to consider the creation of a distinct United Nations voluntary fund for indigenous youth or the earmarking of existing and future funds to increase and enhance the direct participation of indigenous youth at the United Nations. Furthermore, the Forum encourages every State Member of the United Nations to make multi-year voluntary contributions to such existing and/or future funds.
34. The Permanent Forum urges States to take the measures at the national level necessary for the prevention of self-harm and suicide among indigenous children and youth, in particular by promoting the training of experts in the field of psychology who focus on issues specific to indigenous peoples. Such special training should take into account economic, historical, social, ecological and other factors, such as the loss of indigenous languages, cultures and lands.
35. Building upon past work of the Permanent Forum with regard to indigenous women, in particular the study on the extent of violence against indigenous women and girls in terms of article 22 (2) of the United Nations Declaration (see E/C.19/2013/9) and the report of the international expert group meeting on combating such violence (see E/2012/43-E/C.19/2012/13) the Forum recommends that States adopt measures aimed at addressing the specific problems of police brutality, systemic police violence and discrimination against indigenous women, as experienced, for example, by indigenous women in Val-d’Or, Canada, Sepur Zarco, Guatemala, and north-east India.
36. The Permanent Forum welcomes the intention of the Commission on the Status of Women to make the issue of the empowerment of indigenous women a focus area of its sixty-first session, to be held in 2017. The Forum invites the Bureau of the Commission to consider organizing a half-day session on the issue. The Forum calls upon the Commission to consider the empowerment of indigenous women as a theme in future sessions, pursuant to paragraph 19 of General Assembly resolution 69/2.
37. The Permanent Forum recommends that the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women prepare a specific report on the situation of indigenous women’s empowerment, in collaboration with the Forum and indigenous women’s organizations, for submission to the Forum at its seventeenth session.
38. The Permanent Forum urges Member States and funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to implement action to reduce maternal mortality among indigenous women. The Forum recommends that the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women publish a factsheet, in collaboration with the Forum, on indigenous women’s maternal mortality and maternal health, with the aim of reducing maternal mortality and promoting sexual and reproductive health.
39. The Permanent Forum urges Member States and funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to implement actions to strengthen the leadership and political participation of indigenous women.
40. Consistent with the commitments in the outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (General Assembly resolution 69/2) and the standards for indigenous peoples’ survival, dignity and well-being contained in the United Nations Declaration, the Permanent Forum recommends that States fully engage indigenous peoples in good-faith negotiations of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements on the basis of the unequivocal recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights to lands, territories and resources and to fully reject the extinguishment of indigenous rights in form or result. Furthermore, the Forum recommends that States address the call for full and effective redress for the loss of lands, territories and resources and State breaches of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements. The Forum reiterates the urgent need for States to institute, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, high-level oversight bodies to guide and oversee the conduct of negotiations and implementation of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements in the light of ongoing negotiation and implementation issues. Building on the recommendations advanced at the eleventh session of the Forum, States are encouraged to support the resolution of disputes between indigenous peoples by providing financial and other methods of support to achieve peaceful resolution.
Tenth Session (2011)
4. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has received information on the implementation of 62 of the 131 recommendations made throughout its past nine sessions in the field of economic and social development, which is one of the six areas that the Forum is mandated to address. These recommendations cover a range of issues, including large-scale development projects, resource extraction, communication, traditional livelihoods, data disaggregation and the development of indicators. The Permanent Forum has consistently upheld the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination, as well as their right to determine and develop their own priorities and strategies for development, as enshrined in articles 3 and 32, respectively, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous women play an integral role in all aspects of economic and social development, and, in order for indigenous peoples to advance the effective implementation of the Declaration, violence against indigenous women must be eradicated.
5. The Permanent Forum requests that its secretariat prepare a report on the implementation of the recommendations made, to be submitted to the Forum at its eleventh session, in 2012. The report should analyse the challenges as well as the associated factors that United Nations agencies and funds, Member States and indigenous peoples’ organizations have faced.
6. The Permanent Forum congratulates the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on the adoption of its policy on indigenous and tribal peoples and requests that FAO take measures towards the implementation of the policy at all levels, especially at the country level. Such measures include improving the capacity of FAO staff to work effectively with indigenous peoples and their organizations and establishing a mechanism for partnership. Further, the Permanent Forum requests that FAO involve it in the development of voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests. In addition, the Forum requests participation in the Committee on World Food Security and membership in the Committee’s advisory group.
7. The Permanent Forum congratulates the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the establishment of an indigenous peoples’ forum on 18 February 2011. This is consistent with international standards and, in particular, with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is also an example of good practice to be followed by other United Nations entities. The Forum encourages IFAD to: (a) actively promote the participation of indigenous peoples’ organizations in country strategies and programme cycles; (b) improve the design, monitoring and evaluation of IFAD-funded projects by using specific indicators for the well-being of indigenous peoples and by promoting an independent assessment of such projects by indigenous peoples; and (c) improving its advocacy role in disseminating its best practices in terms of development approaches with indigenous peoples at the national, regional and international levels.
8. The Permanent Forum welcomes the report of the technical expert group meeting on indicators, mechanisms and data for assessing the implementation of indigenous peoples’ rights, held in Geneva in September 2010 by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the secretariat of the Permanent Forum. The report sets out important principles and guidance for further work. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues and, in particular, ILO, OHCHR and the secretariat of the Permanent Forum continue their work to develop a common framework for monitoring the situation and well-being of indigenous peoples and the implementation of the Declaration, including the identification of indigenous-appropriate indicators, possible data sources and linkages to relevant mechanisms. The process should be taken forward in a collaborative manner with other interested institutions, ensuring full consultation and participation of indigenous peoples.
9. The Permanent Forum welcomes the launching of the United Nations Indigenous Peoples’ Partnership (UNIPP) and urges Member States and others to provide support for the implementation of joint country programmes in at least 8 to 10 countries over the next five years and to the Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development in Asia and the Pacific through UNIPP.
10. The Permanent Forum notes the progress achieved by the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the implementation of a programme on electoral processes with a focus on indigenous women and youth. However, the Permanent Forum is concerned about the Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development in Asia and the Pacific, a programme that has critically contributed to promoting indigenous peoples’ issues and rights in the region. The Permanent Forum urges UNDP to maintain and strengthen this important programme.
11. The Permanent Forum recommends that OHCHR and UNDP continue their work in support of national human rights institutions and focus on capacity development support to promote and protect indigenous peoples’ rights.
12. The Permanent Forum notes the progress made in promoting indigenous peoples’ rights through the Programme to Promote ILO Convention No. 169 (PRO- 169). The Permanent Forum urges ILO to maintain and strengthen this important project/programme.
13. The Permanent Forum recommends: (a) using the model of engaging directly with indigenous peoples that is used by the small grants programme delivery mechanism, developed by UNDP since 1992 for implementation of projects at the local level; and (b) strengthen engagement with indigenous peoples in developing innovative tools and methodologies that are suited to and respectful of their cultures and knowledge.
14. The Permanent Forum recommends that UNDP and other United Nations agencies establish a special programme for indigenous professionals that will serve as an entry point inclusion of these professionals as UNDP staff. This will significantly enrich diversity in human development views and knowledge within the organization.
15. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues compile a database on case studies showing the progress made by Member States and organizations regarding indigenous youth rights in the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Ninth Session (2010)
20. The Permanent Forum congratulates the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the approval of its policy on engagement with indigenous peoples, consistent with international standards, in particular with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Development Group guidelines. In the implementation of the policy, the Forum encourages the Trust Fund to establish an indigenous peoples’ forum at IFAD, as an example of a good practice to be followed by other United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations.
11. The Permanent Forum recommends that States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations provide political, institutional and, in accordance with article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, financial support to the efforts of indigenous peoples so that they may consolidate their own development models and concepts and practices of living well (for example sumak kawsay, suma qamaña, laman laka, gawis ay biag), which are underpinned by their indigenous cosmologies, philosophies, values, cultures and identities, as well as link efforts to implement the Declaration.
25. The Permanent Forum recommends that UNDP include indigenous peoples in its programme of democratic governance in order to support and strengthen indigenous institutions and enable indigenous peoples to enjoy their right to political participation and fortify their capacities for political conflict prevention and resolution.
26. The Permanent Forum recommends that States consider the document entitled “The human development framework and indigenous peoples’ self-determined development or development with culture and identity” (E/C.19/2010/CRP.4) and in particular pay attention to the conclusions and recommendations provided therein.
35. The Permanent Forum welcomes the decision 2009/250 of the Economic and Social Council on a proposed amendment to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, related to the traditional use of the coca leaf. The Forum recommends that Member States support this initiative, taking into account articles 11, 24 and 31 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
36. The Permanent Forum recommends that UNDP further engage indigenous peoples in the discussion regarding the concept of human development and in the elaboration of its Human Development Reports. The UNDP concept of human development and its work to promote such a paradigm should be more strongly founded on human rights principles and therefore on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. With regard to indigenous peoples, this means recognizing the principles of self-determination, independent development and other peoples’ rights. Thus, national, regional and global UNDP Human Development Reports should reflect indigenous peoples’ views of development from the perspective and with the participation of indigenous peoples themselves.
60. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Plurinational State of Bolivia should speed up implementation of the constitutional provisions regarding the freeing of individuals, families and communities in the light of the fact that forced labour and servitude are serious human rights violations that must be addressed with great urgency.
63. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Plurinational State of Bolivia continue the implementation of specific policies in the areas of housing, health and education in order to benefit the freed communities, paying particular attention to those who have been subjected to servitude, and especially children and adolescents.
77. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Government of Paraguay should remain firm in its commitment to cooperating with indigenous peoples’ organizations in order to find emergency solutions to the extremely serious situation of the indigenous communities that have been wholly dispossessed of their land, and to implement policies to ensure the reconstitution of their territory.
83. The Permanent Forum encourages the Government of Paraguay to continue to accept assistance from United Nations agencies and programmes and national cooperation agencies in order to develop policies aimed at the elimination of forced labour and other forms of servitude, especially in matters relating to the most urgent challenges: food, health, housing and education.
99. The Permanent Forum urges the Government of Canada to work with the Friendship Centre Movement and other relevant organizations to determine how it can strengthen its roles and responsibilities with regard to urban indigenous peoples.
100. The Permanent Forum urges the Governments of Canada and the United States to eliminate all assimilation policies that further exacerbate the economic and other disparities between indigenous peoples and the rest of the population.
110. The Permanent Forum welcomes the capacity-building efforts being carried out by the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network for the Latin American and Caribbean Region, thanks to the patronage of the Government of Spain, and encourages other donor Governments to consider sponsoring similar efforts in other regions, in particular in Africa and in the Pacific region.
111. The Permanent Forum notes the general capacity-building efforts on access and benefit-sharing in the African region carried out under Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) of Germany and encourages further efforts to bolster indigenous participation in those workshops and also in developing workshops specifically for indigenous peoples and local communities.
118. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has analysed and discussed indigenous fishing rights in the seas on the basis of a report submitted by the Special Rapporteurs. As a result of those discussions, the Forum considers the protection of the material basis of the culture of indigenous peoples to be a part of international law that should be applied also to fishing rights in the seas, and recommends that States in which indigenous peoples live in coastal areas recognize indigenous peoples’ right to fish in the seas on the basis of historical use and international law. In that context, the Forum notes the ongoing consultations between the Government of Norway and the Sami Parliament and recommends that the Government recognize the right of the coastal Sami to fish in the seas on the basis of historical use and international law.
161. The Permanent Forum recommends that Governments and States promote the creation of conditions for indigenous peoples that will enable them to maintain the forests in their traditional way and conserve their cultural identity, with priority accorded to indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, strengthening their capacities and highlighting the value of ancestral knowledge related to native forests. The Forum further recommends that the traditional knowledge and traditional forest management practices and governance systems of indigenous peoples for the protection and use of their forests be recognized in all forest policies and climate-related forest initiatives.
Eighth Session (2009)
6. The Permanent Forum has paid particular attention to the significant increase in the infrastructure budget of the World Bank, from $15 billion to $45 billion in 2009, for the primary economies of developing States. The implications of this development in relation to the respect and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights have to be clearly understood, and the imperative of getting the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples affected by infrastructure projects has to be guaranteed. The Forum also urges the World Bank to provide additional operational budget to manage this large increase in infrastructure spending. The Permanent Forum reiterates its previous recommendations that the World Bank revise its operational safeguard policies to be consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
7. The Permanent Forum welcomes such initiatives as the indigenous and local community, business and biodiversity consultation, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 12 and 13 May 2009, as a useful dialogue between the private sector and indigenous peoples, and encourages further discussions with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples while stimulating community-level businesses based on the sustainable use of biodiversity through such creative partnerships.
13. The Permanent Forum supports the work of the Special Representative to urge States to integrate human rights into those areas that most affect business practices, including corporate law, export credit and insurance, investments and trade agreements. The Forum suggests that the Special Representative urge States to ensure that such business practices comply with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Forum urges the Special Representative to incorporate the specific views and distinct perspectives of indigenous peoples on social and economic development. Regarding the Americas, corporations must also comply with therulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which construe the States’ obligations under International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries with regard to the Declaration as extending even to States that have not ratified the Convention. The Forum recommends that this principle be applied in other jurisdictions.
17. The Permanent Forum supports the recommendations of the international expert group meeting on extractive industries, indigenous peoples’ rights and corporate social responsibility addressed to extractive industry corporations, States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, indigenous peoples, nations and organizations, and international financial institutions, contained in a paper presented to the Forum.
19. The Permanent Forum takes note of the determination of IFAD — for which it congratulates the Fund — to identify indigenous peoples as a specific target group within the agency’s strategic framework, which, in a significant way, has consolidated and legitimized indigenous peoples’ issues in its work with its partners, other organizations and States. The Permanent Forum finds that identifying indigenous peoples as a specific target group is a standard-setting approach, to be duplicated by the United Nations and other international agencies. It is recommended that IFAD maintain its strong focus on indigenous peoples’ issues in the formulation of the new institutional strategic framework, which is due to commence soon.
22. The Permanent Forum commends the inclusion by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development of free, prior and informed consent in its policy on indigenous peoples, and strongly urges other multilateral and bilateral financial institutions to follow this example. In particular, the Forum calls upon the Asian Development Bank to ensure that free, prior and informed consent and the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are integrated into its revised policy on indigenous peoples. It also calls upon the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation to review their policies and adopt free, prior and informed consent as the central principle in their dealings with indigenous peoples instead of the present free, prior, informed consultation. The international financial institutions should develop a strategy to raise staff awareness at the national and headquarters levels on indigenous peoples’ rights and development perspectives and thereby improve their relationships with indigenous peoples at the country level.
24. The Permanent Forum endorses the recommendations submitted on 8 May 2009 to the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by the Indigenous Peoples Caucus to increase and ensure the formal participation of indigenous peoples in that process.
25. The Permanent Forum recommends that when planning, preparing and implementing its programmes and projects, IFAD conduct the necessary investigations so as to ensure that the particularities and cultural sensitivities of indigenous peoples involved in and affected by the programmes and projects are taken into account. The Permanent Forum underlines the fact that indigenous peoples are to be engaged as an active and equal partner in all processes and phases of programmes and projects.
27. The Permanent Forum notes that representatives of extractive industries, although invited, were unable to attend the International Expert Workshop on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Corporate Accountability and the Extractive Industries, held in Manila from 27 to 29 March 2009. The Forum also notes that the International Council on Mining and Metals is in the process of developing a set of voluntary guidelines for the industry for engagement with indigenous peoples. The Forum invites the Council at the conclusion of the development of the guidelines to forward a copy to the secretariat of the Permanent Forum. The Forum decides to forward a copy of the report of the International Expert Workshop to the International Council on Mining and Metals.
29. The Permanent Forum invites the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to prepare a study on the situation of indigenous women migrants.
41. The Permanent Forum calls upon the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to publish a comprehensive report on the state of indigenous peoples, similar to the Human Development Report, to mark the Decade.
52. The Permanent Forum commends the UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean for starting a regional initiative building on the Programme’s experience in Asia. The Forum recommends that the initiative be consolidated and that the Regional Bureau implement a regional programme to ensure cross-fertilization of good practices among countries and coherent policy approaches. The Forum encourages the Regional Bureau to strengthen its capacity and, together with the Inter-Agency Support Group, looks forward to supporting those efforts through specialized training workshops for United Nations country teams.
53. The Permanent Forum recommends that a capacity-development component be included in UNDP projects that affect indigenous peoples. The Forum also recommends that the experience and knowledge of the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environmental Facility be utilized by other small-grant schemes and that a stronger link be developed between efforts to enhance the capacity of indigenous peoples’ organizations and UNDP efforts to enhance the participation of indigenous peoples in national policy processes.
54. The Permanent Forum urges States with indigenous peoples whose livelihoods and cultures are based upon sea, river and lake fisheries to recognize fishing rights that will build solid foundations for securing and developing local indigenous communities and their cultures.
56. The Permanent Forum urges States to financially resource, empower and support local Arctic indigenous communities in order to give indigenous youth and women, together with other members of the communities, the opportunity to secure and develop their cultures.
57. The Permanent Forum calls upon the Arctic Council to provide the indigenous permanent participants in the Council with adequate financial resources, enabling them to effectively participate in all relevant activities of the Council.
61. The Permanent Forum notes with appreciation the active engagement of UNFPA with indigenous peoples in the regions of Latin America and Asia, as well as its detailed reporting on its work in these areas. The Permanent Forum invites UNFPA to continue reporting on its work and recommends that future reports deal with agency activities in all sociocultural regions or, if no relevant activities are under way in a particular region, the challenges to addressing indigenous issues in such regions.
62. The Permanent Forum welcomes the document of the Commission of the European Communities (COM (2008)), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: The European Union and the Arctic Region delivered in Brussels on 20 November 2008 and urges the European Union to begin implementing the recommendations relevant to indigenous peoples from this document.
74. The Permanent Forum recommends the proposal by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other organizations to hold an expert workshop on the contribution to development of pastoralist cultures and hunting and gathering societies.
85. The Permanent Forum recommends that all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, integrate relevant provisions of the Declaration into their policies, programmes, projects and strategies.
95. The Permanent Forum commends the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people for his efforts on behalf of indigenous peoples around the world and recommends that he continue his work in conformity with the principles he has established.
Seventh Session (2008)
53. The Permanent Forum urges United Nations bodies and specialized agencies to implement the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
56. The Permanent Forum is concerned that the regional presence, representation and services of United Nations agencies in the Asia-Pacific region are limited mostly to the Asian subregion, and recommends that all United Nations agencies review their operations to provide equal services to the Pacific subregion and identify their operations separately according to the two subregions.
57. The Permanent Forum calls on the World Bank to activate the 2005 Extractive Industries Review in order to address the impact and legacy of extractive industries on indigenous lands, territories and resources.
61. The Permanent Forum welcomes the United Nations Development Group guidelines on indigenous peoples’ issues, and encourages United Nations agencies to actively disseminate, promote and implement those guidelines, particularly among their country offices. In that regard, the Forum urges the Development Group to give priority to the promotion, use and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the most universal, comprehensive and fundamental instrument on indigenous peoples’ rights, and to fully reflect this in the next edition of the Group’s guidelines. The Forum also recommends that donor agencies consider providing financial assistance to implement the guidelines.
65. In order to improve the implementation of its recommendations, the Permanent Forum calls upon United Nations agencies to ensure that there are systems in place to share information with and distribute information to indigenous peoples at the local level so that they have the opportunity to engage with the work of the United Nations at the country level and express their views and concerns and implement their policies. The Forum also encourages indigenous peoples’ organizations to engage actively with the United Nations system at the country level and urges United Nations resident coordinators’ offices to engage with indigenous peoples’ organizations and representatives and ensure their active participation and consultation in policy dialogues at the national level.
66. The Permanent Forum commends existing small-grant schemes and programmes, since they often enable indigenous peoples’ organizations to play an active role in implementing the recommendations of the Forum. The Forum encourages the United Nations system to develop small-grant schemes and to increase the level of funding aimed directly at indigenous peoples and also to continue establishing mechanisms to ensure that they effectively reach and benefit indigenous peoples at the local level and provide funds directly to indigenous organizations for socioculturally appropriate project implementation.
67. The Permanent Forum urges UNDP to strengthen its institutional capacity on indigenous peoples’ issues by establishing a task force to serve as a liaison mechanism between headquarters and focal points on indigenous issues at the country level. Furthermore, the Forum recommends that these focal points be specialists on indigenous peoples’ issues.
68. The Permanent Forum encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), jointly with other United Nations agencies, to support the consolidation of the already established communication platforms in Latin America and Canada and to establish platforms in Asia and Africa and the Pacific. The Forum recommends that FAO and other agencies strengthen the reporting and monitoring mechanisms for the communication platforms, especially with a view to supporting indigenous peoples with a monitoring mechanism for their territories.
69. The Permanent Forum encourages FAO and other relevant agencies to favour and promote in member countries the acknowledgement and improvement of land tenure legal frameworks to recognize indigenous peoples’ land rights. The Forum recommends that FAO and other relevant United Nations agencies support activities for participatory delimitation and titling where the legal framework recognizes indigenous land rights. FAO should pay special attention to indigenous peoples’ customary laws regarding land.
70. The Permanent Forum recommends that the International Labour Organization (ILO) continue to work with the Forum, United Nations agencies, financial institutions, bilateral donors and other interested parties to further the inclusion of indigenous peoples’ rights in high-level development policies and poverty reduction strategy papers, such as by raising indigenous peoples’ issues with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and its related Development Assistance Committee.
71. The Permanent Forum recommends that ILO, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, establish a mechanism for the participation of indigenous experts and representatives in the monitoring of ILO Conventions No. 169 and No. 107, regarding both State reports and indigenous peoples’ claims.
72. The Permanent Forum decides to authorize a three-day international expert group workshop on indigenous peoples’ rights, corporate accountability and the extractive industries, and requests that the results of the meeting be reported to the Forum at its eighth session, in 2009. The report of that workshop can feed into the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development, which will address the themes of mining, chemicals, waste management and sustainable consumption and production patterns, and contribute to the review by the eighteenth session of the Commission.
73. Considering that indigenous peoples are empowered to assume leadership in governments at various levels, particularly at the local level, the Permanent Forum urges the United Nations system, including the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNDP and all other relevant agencies, with the support of Member States and donor agencies, to implement, before the convening of its next session, a platform for indigenous local-local cooperation and the establishment of a network of indigenous local governments for information exchange and capacity-building on public administration, local socio-economic governance and participatory approaches to facilitate the implementation of the goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the United Nations development agenda at the local level among indigenous peoples in all regions.
74. The Permanent Forum requests that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples identify the actions of transnational corporations that may breach the inherent rights detailed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and further invites them to present a report to the Forum at its eighth session, in 2009.
103. The Permanent Forum also welcomes the recent adoption of the United Nations Development Group guidelines for indigenous peoples’ issues, which will bring the United Nations normative framework on indigenous peoples to the field level and contribute to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Decade and of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Forum encourages the United Nations system to support the Guidelines with a programme of action and calls upon the donor community to provide resources to that effect. The Forum also calls upon the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues to review and revise the Guidelines in light of the adoption of the Declaration.
108. The Permanent Forum urges the United Nations Population Fund, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and other regional mechanisms, in collaboration with indigenous peoples, to conduct studies on indigenous peoples, urbanization and migration, with an emphasis on indigenous women and youth.
112. The Permanent Forum welcomes the policy guides that are being developed by UN-Habitat, including on housing for indigenous peoples in the urban setting, which will be presented at the upcoming session of the World Urban Forum, to be held from 3 to 7 November 2008, in Nanjing, China. States are encouraged to support the production of the guidelines.
115. A recommendation that UN country teams involve members of the Forum in dialogue processes with indigenous peoples.
118. The Permanent Forum decides to appoint Carlos Mamani Condori, Elisa Canqui Mollo and Pavel Sulyandziga, members of the Forum, as special rapporteurs to conduct a study, without financial implications, on indigenous peoples and corporations. The study will examine the existing mechanisms and practices, review policies on indigenous peoples, examine good practices and submit a report to the Forum at its eighth session in 2009. The Forum calls upon indigenous peoples’ representatives, States, corporations, international financial institutions and the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Compact, to engage in active cooperation with the special rapporteurs.
135. The Permanent Forum wishes to express its appreciation to the Inter-Agency Support Group for its contribution to the work of the Forum, and encourages all United Nations agencies to join the Group, particularly those whose area of work is of special relevance for the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples, such as the World Health Organization.
Sixth Session (2007)
43. The Permanent Forum reiterates its concern that reports developed and presented by many States on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction strategy papers still do not adequately include and address indigenous peoples nor do they include their participation, and therefore calls on States to rectify this weakness and on United Nations agencies to support their efforts. While the Millennium Development Goals provide an important international framework for addressing extreme poverty and health and social outcomes, the Permanent Forum recommends that it is vital that further work be undertaken to ensure that the related programmes reflect full appreciation and respect for the rights and aspirations of indigenous peoples. This work should utilize the results of the workshops on indicators.
44. The Permanent Forum urges the relevant Governments of States visited by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people to implement the recommendations contained in his reports regarding mega-projects implemented using the territories, lands and natural resources of indigenous peoples.
45. The Permanent Forum welcomes the positive contributions of the members of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues and urges them to continue implementing development projects and programmes in participation with indigenous peoples, where applicable. The Forum also requests that more case studies of good practices and lessons learned be presented at the sessions of the Forum, including information about less successful cases
46. The Permanent Forum encourages national and international financial institutions to target indigenous peoples as beneficiaries of their micro-financing mechanisms and other relevant mechanisms, with the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples.
47. The Permanent Forum expresses concern about the situation of indigenous men, who, in the development process, suffer losses in their traditional livelihoods in their family structures and their roles in the community, and face social challenges as a result, as shown by many social indices, and urges United Nations agencies to undertake a study on the changing role of indigenous men in the economic development process.
48. The Permanent Forum welcomes the initiative of the World Bank in compiling and analysing disaggregated data on indigenous peoples, poverty and human development in South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, and urges the World Bank to present the results of those studies to the seventh session of the Permanent Forum in 2008.
118. The Permanent Forum recommends that States, in order to combat the adverse effects of migration, cooperate with indigenous peoples to provide employment and economic development opportunities within their territories.
Fifth Session (2006)
43. The Permanent Forum recommends that social and environmental impact assessments, including human rights impact assessments and poverty impact assessments, of financial investments and trade agreements directly affecting indigenous peoples be undertaken, and that the resources for those assessments be provided by the sources of the investments and the parties to trade agreements.
158. Special attention should be paid to indigenous peoples at the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to be held during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly in New York on 14 and 15 September 2006. Given that indigenous peoples are closely tied to their communities, the impact exerted by their migration is often broader than that exerted by individual migration. In particular, indigenous migration affects the collective rights of indigenous communities and accordingly has consequences for entire communities.
161. The Permanent Forum recommends that an expert group meeting on urban indigenous peoples and migration be organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in cooperation with the secretariat of the Permanent Forum with the participation of the members of the Permanent Forum, experts from indigenous organizations, the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations and interested Governments, for the purpose of formulating recommendations for consideration, as part of its preparatory work for the sixth session. The Permanent Forum requests donors to provide financial resources for this expert group meeting. The Permanent Forum invites the International Organization for Migration to assist in the preparations for this meeting.
Fourth Session (2005)
Special theme: Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples: Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals: “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”, to be addressed under the following thematic approach of combating poverty: good practices and barriers to implementation
4. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues notes that the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in connection with indigenous peoples must be viewed within the broader context of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which brings together the three basic aims of the Charter of the United Nations: peace and security, economic and social development, and human rights. Indigenous peoples have the right to benefit from the Millennium Development Goals and from other goals and aspirations contained in the Millennium Declaration to the same extent as all others. Indigenous and tribal peoples are lagging behind other parts of the population in the achievement of the goals in most, if not all, the countries in which they live, and indigenous and tribal women commonly face additional gender-based disadvantages and discrimination.
5. The Forum therefore notes with concern that indigenous issues are often absent from Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction processes and from Millennium Development Goals reports and poverty reduction strategy papers. The Forum is concerned that, unless the particular situation of indigenous peoples are adequately taken into account, some Millennium Development Goals processes may lead to accelerated loss of lands and natural resources for indigenous peoples, and thus of their means of subsistence and their displacement, as well as to accelerated assimilation and erosion of their culture.
6. The Forum recalls the recommendations made at its first three sessions on economic and social development, as well as on indigenous children, indigenous women and the other areas of its mandate, and stresses that those recommendations are valid and important towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
7. The Forum invites all the African States, the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to its fifth session to participate in meetings on the Millennium Development Goals and their implementation in Africa during the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
8. The Permanent Forum encourages the African Governments and the intergovernmental agencies to intensify dialogue among themselves under the supervision of the African Union, more precisely within the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with special emphasis on poverty eradication based on the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples.
9. In connection with Millennium Development Goal 1, “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day and reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger”, the Forum wishes to draw particular attention to pertinent recommendations made at its first three sessions.
Framework and capacity-building
11. In implementing the Millennium Development Goals, States should ensure the absolute prohibition of racial discrimination and, where appropriate, should promote multicultural policies, affirmative action and special measures necessary for poverty reduction among indigenous communities.
12. States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations should support the efforts of indigenous peoples to build, articulate and implement their visions of and strategies for development. They should provide adequate funding, technical and institutional support and training to enable indigenous peoples to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and for indigenous peoples to participate effectively in the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects.
13. States, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia and the media should promote national dialogues and collaboration, including through the establishment of policy and institutional frameworks, as appropriate, in order to bring together indigenous peoples’ perspectives technical knowledge and priorities for sustainable human development and their expectations regarding the Millennium Development Goals. Indigenous peoples’ institutions and processes, where they exist, should be respected during these dialogues.
14. The human rights-based approach to development should be operationalized by States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, including the international financial institutions, and should be the framework underpinning Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction strategies, programmes and activities. The recognition of indigenous peoples as distinct peoples and the respect for their individual and collective human rights, rights to lands and territories and sustainable use of natural resources are crucial for achieving a just and sustainable solution to the widespread poverty in their midst. Relevant international treaties, such as International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169, common article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which declares that “no people shall be deprived of its own means of subsistence”, as well as bilateral State-indigenous treaties or accords, should be implemented to ensure compliance and implementation.
15. Member States, the United Nations system, bodies and funds should consider the definitions of extreme poverty by indigenous peoples and in this regard should refer to the report of the independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty (E/CN.4/2005/49). Poverty indicators based on indigenous peoples’ own perception of their situation and experiences should be developed, jointly with indigenous peoples.
16. Governments, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations should develop programmes, in cooperation with indigenous peoples, to build the capacity and awareness of their staff to better understand and address indigenous issues.
Implementation and monitoring
17. The impact of the implementation of Millennium Development Goals on indigenous peoples should be assessed and reported in Millennium Development Goals country reports and other relevant reports by States and the United Nations system. Progressive assessment of the situation of indigenous peoples in the process of implementation of the Millennium Development Goals should be reflected in the Millennium Development Goals country reports. Guidelines for the preparation of the Millennium Development Goals reports should be refined to ensure that the coverage of the poverty situation of indigenous peoples is integrated. The Millennium Development Goals country reports should be prepared, where relevant, with the full participation of indigenous peoples.
18. The common country assessment/United Nations Development Assistance Framework, poverty reduction strategy papers, country strategy papers and other development processes, national or international, should ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, including indigenous women and, as relevant, indigenous children and youth.
19. The United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations and donor agencies should implement, at the country level, existing policies on indigenous peoples or develop such policies if they do not exist, and should strengthen the capacity of institutions to implement such policies and programmes in an effective and sustainable manner.
20. Governments, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations should, within the context of the 2005 Millennium Development Goals review and beyond, develop disaggregated data and information on indigenous peoples, in partnership with indigenous peoples. This should include a budget analysis to determine the amount of resources allotted to indigenous peoples. The Forum recommends to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean that it continue to and strengthen its efforts regarding the production, elaboration and use of relevant information from population censuses, household surveys and other adequate sources, jointly with indigenous peoples, aiming at improving socio-economic conditions and active participation of indigenous peoples in the development process throughout the Latin American and the Caribbean region.
21. States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations should ensure the participation of indigenous peoples in designing and formulation of poverty reduction strategies as well as in the implementation and monitoring processes, and should make them visible in poverty reduction strategies, programmes and activities. Rights to indigenous land, forests, marine and other natural resources should be clearly identified in poverty reduction strategy papers documents, the role of indigenous peoples should be specified and the control by indigenous peoples over traditional land, forests, marine and other natural resources and decisions on the type of development should be acknowledged.
22. Relations between development agencies and the organizations of indigenous peoples should be direct and not relayed through intermediate institutions of the dominant society.
23. States should recognize the rights of indigenous peoples to food and nutritional security and the sustainable production and consumption of healthy and nutritious foods by using appropriate sustainable technology. There is a particular need to ensure that indigenous peoples who depend on marine and terrestrial resources be supported in protecting and ensuring their rights to and sustainable use of those resources.
24. States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes should mobilize support for indigenous peoples who are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters.
25. The Forum encourages the World Bank to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in the formulation of the forthcoming indigenous peoples’ guidebook and any revision to the operational policy BP 4.10 on indigenous peoples. The policy and practice of the World Bank and other multilateral development banks should be consistent with internationally recognized human rights of indigenous peoples. The results of the International Expert Workshop on Methodologies regarding Free, Prior and Informed Consent should serve as a guide to the World Bank in its practices pertaining to indigenous peoples.
Third Session (2004)
55. The Forum reiterates its recommendations on economic and social development made at its second session, in particular those contained in chapter I, section B, paragraphs 26-28, 33-34, 36, 39 and 44 of the report.
58. The Forum urges Governments, in addressing economic and social development issues, to make efforts to adopt general strategies that include considerations for the needs and rights of indigenous peoples in the policies, laws and administrative issues that affect them, and they should include participation and consultations with indigenous peoples. Governments should also consider implementing special policies directed to employment creation for indigenous peoples, facilitating access to credit and the creation of small and medium-sized businesses.
60. The Forum urges all relevant United Nations entities, especially UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF and UNFPA, to: (a) Develop methodologies and strategies to research the underlying causes of the “feminization” and “indigenization” of poverty and to develop programmes, which effectively address these underlying causes of marginalization; (b) Perform systematic needs assessments for indigenous women based on the information provided by indigenous women’s groups and NGOs; (c) Involve local, indigenous women in a decision-making capacity in all aspects of the programme cycle.The Forum recommends that all relevant United Nations entities research the needs of indigenous women and the causes of “indigenization” of poverty.The Forum recommends that all relevant United Nations entities research the needs of indigenous women and the causes of “indigenization” of poverty.
61. The Forum requests international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and other regional organizations, to design special programmes for indigenous women to provide them with access to capital and microfinance programmes, taking into account the traditional mechanisms of each community.
62. The Forum recommends that the United Nations system continue its advocacy work on indigenous connectivity in preparation for phase II of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in 2005, taking into account the Declaration of the Global Forum of Indigenous Peoples and the Information Society and the Programme of Action. The Forum supports and applauds the decision taken by the Summit to establish multi-stakeholder portals that allow communication between indigenous peoples at the national level.
64. The Forum recognizes the importance of the Millennium Development Goals in the realization of social and economic development for indigenous peoples, and therefore calls upon United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to work in collaboration with indigenous peoples to achieve such objectives.
65. The Forum recommends that United Nations agencies, funds and programmes strengthen their work on migration and its effects on indigenous peoples, and develop policies and outreach programmes for indigenous migrant and urban peoples.
66. The Forum invites the Economic and Social Council and the regional commissions to present reports on the economic situation, scenarios and impacts of free-trade policies, especially the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, with emphasis on indigenous peoples.
67. The Forum is fully aware of the close links between conflict and poverty. Conflicts cause poverty and reverse development. The Forum invites those United Nations agencies, funds and programmes working in areas of conflict to consider the special needs of indigenous peoples in their work.
68. The Forum takes note with appreciation of the focus and work of UN-Habitat, particularly regarding the ongoing study jointly initiated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on indigenous peoples and the right to adequate housing, and recommends that UN-Habitat submit a report on the conclusions and recommendations of this study to the Forum at its fourth session, and that it participate in the dialogue.
69. The Forum recommends to the United Nations Development Group that the indicators of the Millennium Development Goals be assessed and that additional indicators be identified to give fuller assessment of environmental sustainability.
70. The Forum reaffirms the UNDP focus on implementing its policy of working with indigenous peoples at the country level, and urges UNDP to continue its work to develop a policy on land tenure rights with the participation of indigenous peoples.
71. The Forum recommends that UNDP continue its work on supporting local-level initiatives, such as the equator initiative, the community water initiative, the community-based initiative and the assisting communities together project.
72. The Forum recommends that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with multilateral and regional agencies and indigenous organizations, lead the mainstreaming of indigenous issues and concerns in poverty reduction strategies at the country level. In view of the decreasing support to pastoral and semi-nomadic groups in Africa, the Forum recommends that IFAD initiate programmes in support of these groups and submit its planned work programme to the Forum at its fourth session.
97. The Forum urges international donor agencies, regional organizations and States to incorporate indigenous people’s issues in the formulation of sector policies for development cooperation and to address indigenous peoples’ issues in their joint development programmes and projects to ensure that indigenous peoples and their issues are effectively mainstreamed into their work.
Second Session (2003)
27. The Forum welcomes UNDP’s contribution to the Forum and its support of the establishment of a working group on free, prior and informed consent and of the initiative to develop a land rights policy. The Forum also recognizes the key role UNDP can play in data collection and disaggregation through its national human development reports and the Millennium Development Goals reports. The Forum also recognizes that the Goals can provide an overall framework for furthering indigenous peoples’ development.
28. The Forum expresses concern over development practices that do not take into account the particular characteristics of indigenous communities as groups, with their distinct cultural identities and often their own systems of representation, thus significantly undermining meaningful ways of participation in the assessment, preparation, execution and evaluation of development programmes of their concern.
29. The Forum, taking into account that States recognized the vital role of indigenous peoples in sustainable development at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, calls upon the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations and Governments to establish processes of meaningful participation and partnership with indigenous communities in those processes, including within the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the poverty reduction strategy papers of the World Bank. The Forum recommends, through the Economic and Social Council, that all States, organs and agencies of the United Nations take into account the Kimberley Declaration adopted by the Summit of Indigenous Peoples on Sustainable Development, held in the territory of the Khoi-San People from 20 to 23 August 2002, as well as the Plan of Implementation of Indigenous Peoples on Sustainable Development, when States begin to implement the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Permanent Forum, through the Economic and Social Council, invites United Nations agencies, bodies, funds and programmes to identify areas of work within their mandates for collaborative implementation with indigenous peoples’ Kimberly proposals, taking into account the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development on its eleventh session and the multi-year programme of work of the Commission, for the further implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as well as the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals.
30. The Forum takes note of the adoption by the Commission on Sustainable Development of a substantive agenda for the next several years, and decides to prepare inputs to the Commission according to the calendar adopted by the Commission. In preparation for the first cluster for 2004-2005 on water, sanitation and human settlements, the Forum recommends that its secretariat prepare, without financial implications, a brief draft position paper and to submit it to the Forum at its third session.
31. Noting that the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2003, will devote its high-level segment to rural development, the Forum recommends that the Council, in formulating its conclusions, take into account the unique cultural identities of indigenous peoples and the necessity for their meaningful participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes dealing with rural development.
33. The Forum, taking into account the meetings between the World Bank and indigenous peoples held during its second session on the guidelines and operative policies and procedural norms of the Bank, recommends that the Bank: (a) Continue to address issues currently outstanding, including Bank implementation of international customary laws and standards, in particular human rights instruments, full recognition of customary land and resource rights of indigenous peoples, recognition of the right of free, prior informed consent of indigenous peoples regarding development projects that affect them, and prohibition of the involuntary resettlement of indigenous peoples; (b) Compile examples of best practices in development projects with indigenous peoples and include those best practices in future policies; (c) Discuss the issues of forced relocation and land rights; (d) Facilitate and support the exchange of knowledge and information between indigenous organizations; (e) Facilitate and support the exchange of information on the implementation of policies on indigenous peoples by international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
34. The Forum welcomes the new initiative of the Bank entitled “Grants facility for indigenous peoples”, and urges the Bank to organize consultations with indigenous peoples’ organizations to further the process.
35. The Forum recommends that the International Labour Organization inform the Forum at its third session of the impact of the major ILO technical cooperation programmes, in particular the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour, and programmes under the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights.
36. The Forum renews the recommendation made at its first session on the need to create a three-year working group on free, prior informed consent and participatory research guidelines, under the aegis of the Forum, with funding from the regular budget that includes a focus on how the guidelines relate to the protection of indigenous knowledge and natural resources.
37. The Forum recommends that a meeting of international financial institutions be convened, with the participation of the Forum, to consider issues related to their policies, procedures and relationships concerning indigenous peoples, and that a report of the meeting be prepared for consideration.
38. The Forum recommends that the United Nations system, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund formulate development policies for indigenous peoples that affirm their identity and include the participation of indigenous citizens so as to highlight and initiate programmes and projects based on the perspective of the indigenous way of life.
39. Considering the effects of globalization and the need for indigenous peoples to participate in the global economy to promote their development, the Forum recommends that the Economic and Social Council invite the World Trade Organization to participate in its third session.
40. The Forum recommends that a world conference on indigenous peoples in the information society be organized on the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society (10-12 December 2003), in close cooperation with interested Governments and NGOs. It is recommended that the assistance of the secretariat of the Summit be provided for the organization of such an event. The Forum recommends that a written report on indigenous peoples in the information society be addressed by the focal point of the Forum, Mr. Matias, to the preparatory committee for the Summit before 31 August 2003.
41. The Forum recommends inviting the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and other regional commissions to present a report of their activities concerning the situation of indigenous peoples and poverty in Latin America.
42. The Forum recommends to States and the United Nations system the implementation of projects of agriculture, fishing, forestry, and arts and crafts production to diversify productive activities and family income sources and to contribute to reducing, according to their own will, the levels of internal and external migration of indigenous peoples, and to providing capacity-building in those areas, by: (a) Promoting the knowledge, application and dissemination of appropriate technologies and indigenous peoples’ local products with certificates of origin to activate product activities, as well as the use, management and conservation of natural resources; (b) Strengthening the capacities and potential of local human resources to train agricultural, fishery and forestry promoters that respond efficiently to the necessities of the families beneficiaries; (c) Strengthening the institutional and entrepreneurial capacity of organizations of indigenous peoples to design operative and effective strategies so as to achieve sustainable development for the indigenous peoples of the world.
43. The Forum recommends to Governments the design and implementation of mechanisms for resolving the problems related to land tenure and access to credits, with quality and efficiency and without affecting indigenous peoples.
44. The Forum recommends that States where indigenous peoples live formulate and implement public policies with gender and ethnic considerations, taking into account the multicultural and multi-ethnic composition of their populations.
45. The Forum reiterates its recommendation that the Economic and Social Council approve the creation, under the auspices of the Forum, of a three-year working group on free, prior informed consent and participatory research guidelines, with the participation of stakeholders concerned, namely Governments, indigenous peoples’ organizations, corporations and States and the United Nations system, with combined funding provided partly by the regular budget and partly through the Voluntary Fund, the World Bank and corporations, that includes a focus on how free, prior informed consent and participatory research guidelines relate to economic, social and environmental projects and the protection of indigenous knowledge and natural resources.
116. The Forum notes that there is a need for capacity-building in national and local government as well indigenous communities in the areas within the Forum’s mandate, and recommends that various parts of the United Nations system, including the International Labour Organization and the secretariat of the Forum, cooperate to provide technical assistance in that regard at the request of Governments and indigenous communities.
First Session (2002)
25. The Forum notes that it is of the utmost importance to ensure respect for the rights of indigenous peoples in the planning and implementation of economic and social development projects. Accordingly, the Forum makes the following recommendations:
(a) The International Labour Organization (ILO) should continue to urge ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 concerning indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries, particularly by African and Asian countries, none of which have ratified it;
(b) ILO should continue to work towards the implementation of the Convention in countries that have already ratified it;
(c) A major effort should be made to provide information to United Nations agencies concerning the rights of indigenous peoples and, in addition, the agencies which do not yet have policies and strategies on indigenous peoples should be encouraged to formulate them in development programmes and projects, taking into account constitutional and legal advances made both nationally and internationally, particularly with reference to the Convention;
(d) The World Bank should take into account the outcome of the assessment being made of its current operational guidelines on indigenous peoples before completing the drafting of new guidelines on the matter. It should also re-evaluate the manner in which it has held consultations on the new guidelines;
(e) The United Nations agencies and bodies, including the financial institutions, must review their programmes and projects relating to indigenous peoples in order to gather information on policy, strategies, programmes, projects, allocated resources and outcomes; the Forum will subsequently address specific questions to the agencies and bodies on the question, including the issues of indigenous migrants living in urban areas, farm conflicts, food security and intellectual property;
(f) Thought must be given to how the United Nations system can foster stronger mechanisms to control and monitor the transnational enterprises operating in indigenous territories and lands. Steps should be taken to ensure that the subject is dealt with, inter alia, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in August and September 2002 and at the meeting of the Andean Presidential Council, other opportunities being the Indigenous Peoplesí Caucus preparatory to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the meeting of the Andean Forum established by the Andean Community, in both of which members of the Forum should participate;
(g) Importance should also be given to familiarity with the different activities being conducted by the Commission on Sustainable Development;
(h) The various United Nations bodies should be very specific in any statements they make about indigenous issues, and any replies submitted should be equally specific so that the members of the Forum can obtain information.