Indigenous Peoples' Organizations and
Non-governmental Organizations
Information for indigenous peoples' organizations, NGOs
and other interested entities
Useful link:
ECOSOC consultative status website
By its resolution 2000/22,
the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) established the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Forum is a subsidiary organ of
the Council. By that resolution, ECOSOC also decided, inter alia,
that States, United Nations bodies and organs, intergovernmental
organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative
status with the Council may participate in the work of the Forum
as observers. ECOSOC also decided that organizations of indigenous
people may equally participate as observers in the work of the
Permanent Forum in accordance with the procedures which have been
applied in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the
Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
The first session of the Forum was held at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 12 to 24 May 2002. It was attended by Members of the Permanent Forum, representatives of Governments, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations, as well as a significant number of non-governmental organizations, indigenous organizations and academic institutions. Relevant information relating to the first session of the Permanent Forum is available in document E/2002/43/Rev.1, E/CN.19/2002/3/Rev.1.
Second Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The second session took place from 12 to 23 May 2003 at United Nations Headquarters, New York.
In order to facilitate the participation of IPOs-NGOs and other organizations representing indigenous populations at the Second Session of the Permanent Forum, the following information was included for reference and use:
Registered representatives of IPOs-NGOs had the opportunity to attend meetings of the Second Session of the Permanent Forum. Representatives of registered IPOs-NGOs and other organizations of indigenous peoples also made oral presentations at the session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accreditation and Pre-Registration
Q1. Our organization is interested in attending the session of the Permanent Forum. To whom shall we direct our queries for application?
The Permanent Forum is not a United Nations Conference. It is not a special session of the General Assembly acting as the follow-up to a United Nations conference. It is a subsidiary organ made of experts whose main responsibility is to advise ECOSOC on issues relating to the situation of indigenous peoples. Taking into account the special nature of the Forum, the diversity of its participation and the breath of its mandate described in resolution 2000/22, the First Session was open to NGOs in consultative status, organizations of indigenous peoples and academic institutions.
Interested organizations falling under the above-mentioned categories are invited to fill in the attached pre-registration form and send it to the NGO Unit of the Division for Social Policy and Development (see address below).
Q2. Our organization attended the First Session of the Forum. Do we still need to pre-register?
Yes. All organizations interested in attending the Second Session of the Forum are invited to pre-register. In addition, NGO representatives are requested to register at their arrival at the United Nations before attending the session. By doing so, NGOs allow the United Nations to better plan their participation in the session, anticipate virtual security concerns and uncertainties, and provide better assistance to participants. It is also an opportunity for the Secretariat to keep accurate records of participation of NGOs in the work of the Organization.
Q3. My organization enjoys consultative status with ECOSOC, but we have not received an invitation to attend sessions of the Permanent forum. How can we pre-register?
Different means are used to provide NGOs and other interested entities with information on the Permanent Forum, including the use of the Internet. Whenever possible, contacts are also established with the headquarters of NGOs regarding participation of their representatives in meetings organized under the aegis of the United Nations. In most instances, letters are sent to NGOs, rather than to their representatives. All interested NGOs that have not received an invitation letter may get in touch with the NGO Unit of the Division for Social Policy and Development or use one of the above-mentioned pre-registration forms.
Q4. Can representatives of NGOs attend sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration?
We do not encourage attendance of sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration. All NGO representatives, including those from organizations enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC and holding annual ground-passes, are encouraged to pre-register and register at the site of sessions of the Permanent Forum. Failure to pre-register will lead to considerable delays.
Participation
Q1. Can all NGOs address sessions of the Permanent Forum or only those in consultative status with ECOSOC?
During the First Session the Permanent Forum, representatives of sixty NGOs and indigenous organizations made presentations. Most of the organizations that addressed the Forum do not enjoy consultative status. In other words, all NGOs registered to attend the session may make oral presentations, depending on availability of time.
Other concerns
Q1. Where do we get documents on the Permanent Forum?
Documents on the Forum are available at right here on our website. >>
Hard copies of published documents may be obtained by contacting the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. >>
Q2. Will the United Nations help me with my visa to New York?
Arrangements for travel, including visa procedures, accommodation and transportation are the responsibility of NGOs. NGOs representatives need to deal directly with USA consulates in their countries of residence regarding issues pertaining to visa. The United Nations will send a confirmation letter to NGO representatives once they have been pre-registered. This confirmation letter may be used by NGO representatives to request a visa from USA authorities. If necessary, the Division for Social Policy and Development will assist in providing information regarding the status of NGOs at the request of American authorities. However, under no circumstances, the United Nations would send unsolicited correspondence to a USA Consulate to validate a request made by an NGO representative to obtain a visa.
Q3. Does the United Nations provide funding for NGOs to attend the Forum?
At this stage, the United Nations does not have any funding for this purpose. The costs of travel, accommodation, daily subsistence and other arrangements, including visa, are the responsibility of NGOs. The United Nations is not in a position to assist in finding other sources of funding for NGOs. However, limited support maybe available through the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. Information is available through www.unhchr.ch , click on "Indigenous Peoples". Please note that applications close in the proceeding October to the year of the Permanent Forum Session.
For additional information, please contact:
Mr. Yao Ngoran
Chief, NGO Unit
Division for Social Policy and Development
2 United Nations Plaza
Room DC2-1376
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: (212) 963 3175
Fax: (212) 963 3062
Email : ngoran@un.org
Submission of Written statements
Excerpt form ECOSOC resolution 1996/31
(DEADLINE 3 March 2003)
36.- Written statements relevant to the work of the commissions or other subsidiary organs may be submitted by organizations in general consultative status and special consultative status on subjects for which these organizations have a special competence. Such statements shall be circulated by the Secretary-General to members of the commission or other subsidiary organs, except those statements that have become obsolete, for example, those dealing with matters already disposed of and those that have already been circulated in some other form to members of the commission or other subsidiary organs.
37.- The following conditions shall be observed regarding the submission and circulation of such written statements:
(a) The written statement shall be submitted in one of the official languages;
(b) It shall be submitted in sufficient time for appropriate consultation to take place between the Secretary-General and the organization before circulation;
(c) The organization shall give due consideration to any comments that the Secretary-General may make in the course of such consultation before transmitting the statement in final form;
(d) A written statement submitted by an organization in general consultative status will be circulated in full if it does not exceed 2,000 words. Where a statement is in excess of 2,000 words, the organization shall submit a summary, which will be circulated, or shall supply sufficient copies of the full text in the working languages for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in full, however, upon the specific request of the commission or other subsidiary organs;
(e) A written statement submitted by an organization in special consultative status will be circulated in full if it does not exceed 1,500 words. Where a statement is in excess of 1,500 words, the organization shall submit a summary, which will be circulated, or shall supply sufficient copies of the full text in the working languages for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in full, however, upon the specific request of the commission or other subsidiary organs;
(f) The Secretary-General, in consultation with the chairman of the relevant commission or other subsidiary organ, or the commission or other subsidiary organ itself, may invite organizations on the Roster to submit written statements. The provisions in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) above shall apply to such statements;
(g) A written statement or summary, as the case may be, will be circulated by the Secretary-General in the working languages and, upon the request of a member of the commission or other subsidiary organ, in any of the official languages.
For queries regarding written statements please contact us at: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org
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