General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

13 December 1985

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                       A/RES/40/131
                                                       13 December 1985
                                                       116th plenary meeting
 
          United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
 
     The General Assembly,
 
     Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/34 of
7 May 1982, by which the Council authorized the Sub-Commission on Prevention
of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to establish annually a working
group on indigenous populations,
 
     Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1984/32 of
12 March 1984,
 
     Convinced that the establishment of a voluntary trust fund for indigenous
populations would constitute a significant development for the future
promotion and protection of the human rights of indigenous populations,
 
     Decides to establish a voluntary trust fund in accordance with the
following criteria:
 
     (a)  The name of the fund shall be the United Nations Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Populations;
 
     (b)  The purpose of the Fund shall be to assist representatives of
indigenous communities and organizations to participate in the deliberations
of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations by providing them with
financial assistance, funded by means of voluntary contributions from
Governments, non-governmental organizations and other private or public
entities;
 
     (c)  The only type of activity to be supported by the Fund is that
described in subparagraph (b) above;
 
     (d)  The only beneficiaries of assistance from the Fund shall be
representatives of indigenous peoples' organizations and communities:
 
     (i)  Who are so considered by the Board of Trustees of the United Nations
          Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations described in
          subparagraph (e) below;
 
    (ii)  Who would not, in the opinion of the Board, be able to attend the
          sessions of the Working Group without the assistance provided by the
          Fund;
 
   (iii)  Who would be able to contribute to a deeper knowledge on the part of
          the Working Group of the problems affecting indigenous populations
          and who would secure a broad geographical representation;
 
     (e)  The Fund shall be administered in accordance with the Financial
Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and other relevant provisions set
forth in the annex to the note by the Secretary-General, with the advice of
a Board of Trustees composed of five persons with relevant experience on
issues affecting indigenous populations, who will serve in their personal
capacity; the members of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the
Secretary-General for a three-year term renewable in consultation with the
current Chairman of the Sub-Commission; at least one member of the Board shall
be a representative of a widely-recognized organization of indigenous people.