Seventh Session of the UNPFII
Special theme: Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges
21 April – 2 May, 2008
UN Headquarters, New York
Report on the Seventh Session
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Attendance
Opening Ceremony of the Seventh Session of the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues, 11.00 a .m. -1.00 p.m., Conference Room 2
The President of Bolivia, H.E. Evo Morales Ayma will address the opening ceremony of the seventh session of the Permanent Forum.
Bureau
- Chairperson: Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines)
- Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. Carlos Mamani Condori (Bolivia), Ms. Tonya Gonnella Frichner (USA), Ms. Liliane Muzangi Mbela (Congo), Mr. Pavel Sulyandziga (Russian Federation)
- Rapporteur: Mr. Michael Dodson (Australia)
Provisional Agenda
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work.
3. Special theme: “Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the
stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges”.
4. Implementation of the recommendations on the six mandated areas of the
Permanent Forum and on the Millennium Development Goals:
(a) Economic and social development;
(b) Environment;
(c) Health;
(d) Education;
(e) Culture;
(f) Human rights.
5. Human rights: dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and other special
rapporteurs.
6. Half-day discussion on the Pacific.
7. Half-day discussion on indigenous languages.
8. Ongoing priorities and themes and follow-up:
(a) Indigenous children and youth;
(b) Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People;
(c) Urban indigenous peoples and migration.
9. Future work of the Permanent Forum, including emerging issues.
10. Draft agenda for the eighth session of the Permanent Forum.
11. Adoption of the report of the Permanent Forum on its seventh session.
Press kits and fact sheets
Opening Press Release: Climate Change, biodiversity and indigenous peoples
Backgrounder: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples
Fact sheet: Indigenous Languages
Speeches and statements
Spanish version – transcript by ALAI
Special Events
Press Releases from the session
The follwing press releases contain great deal of information about the proceedings of the Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum, including summaries of discussions and statements made.
HR/4944: 1st & 2nd Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4946: 3rd & 4th Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4948: 6th & 7th Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4949: 8th & 9th Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4951: 11th & 12th Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4952: 13th & 14th Meetings (AM & PM)
HR/4953: 15th & 16th Meetings (AM & PM)
Press Conference on Seventh Session at opening day
Documents
Other
Impact of climate change mitigation measures on indigenous peoples and on their territories and lands | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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CRP. 6: Nota sobre el Alcance del Mandato Contenido en el Artículo 42 de la Declaración sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y el Mejor Modo de Satisfacerlo por Parte del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Report of the Conference on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, Copenhagen 21-22 Ferburay 2008 | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
CRP.1: Final report of the indigenous peoples’ border summit of the Americas II, San Xavier District | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Indigenous Peoples´ Indicators of Well-being, Poverty and Sustainability | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Study on the structures, procedures and mechanisms that presently exist and that might be established to effectively address the human rights situation of indigenous peoples and to arrange for indigenous representation and inclusion in such strutures, procedures and mechanisms | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Forms of Education of Indigenous Children as Crimes Against Humanity? | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Submitted by NGOs
CRP 12: The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and the Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent: The Framework For a New Mechanism for Reparations, Restitution and Redress | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Microsoft Word (doc)
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CRP10: Report of the international expert group meeting on indigenous peoples and protection of the environment | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Microsoft Word (doc)
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CRP 11: Consultation Workshop and Dialogue on Indigenous Peoples’ Self-determined Development or Development with Identity | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Microsoft Word (doc)
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CRP3: Conference on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change – Meeting Report | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Microsoft Word (doc)
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CRP4: Report of the North America Region Preparatory Meeting for the UNPFII Seventh Session | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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CRP. 5: Written submission by Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) with the support of Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, North East Zone (ICITP-NEZ) and Gender and Climate Change Network: Women for Climate Justice (GENCC) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Submitted by the Secretariat of UNPFII
CRP9: International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
Proposed Organization of Work | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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MDG Reports and Indigenous Peoples: A desk review, No. 3, Feb 2008 | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Report of the Secretariat of the UNPFII on ongoing priorities and themes | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
Provisional agenda of the seventh session of the Permanent Forum | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Report of the International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Languages | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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From Governments
Information received from Governments: Venezuela | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Russian Federation | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Colombia | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Peru | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Bolivia | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Mexico | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Spain | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Information received from Governments: Ecuador | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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From the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations
Attendance at the seventh session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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CRP7: Special meeting in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Report of the UN system in Ecuador | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Compilation: Secretariat of the Conveintion on Biological Diversity (SCBD) & World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Forum on Forests and the International Organization for Migration | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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CRP2: IASG Collated Paper on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Microsoft Word (doc)
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Compilation: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Department of Public Information, World Food Program, Council of Europe, Asian Development Bank | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
UN Department of Eceonomic and Social Affairs (DESA) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Report of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues (IASG) to the Seventh Session | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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International Labour Organization (ILO) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH |
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | AR | EN | ES | FR | RU | ZH
Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
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Logistical Information
Logistical Information
Please click here for information regarding accommodation and transportation in New York City.
Travel and Visa Information
Arrangements for travel, including visa procedures, accommodation and transportation are the responsibility of NGOs and IPOs and other interested organizations. Representatives of participating organizations must deal directly with United States consulates in their countries of residence regarding visa issues. The United Nations will send a confirmation letter to NGO and IPO representatives once they have been pre-registered. This confirmation letter may be used by NGO and IPO representatives to request a visa from American authorities.
Funding
The only UN source of funding for travel to participate in the sessions of the Permanent Forum is the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, which is managed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Please note that applications close in October of the year preceding the Permanent Forum’s Session. Please click here for more details.
Frequently asked questions
Our organization is interested in attending the next session of the Permanent Forum. Can we participate?
Participation in the sessions of the Permanent Forum is open to NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, indigenous peoples’ organizations and academic institutions. All participants need to pre-register for the sessions of the Permanent Forum. The sessions of the Permanent Forum tend to take place in April or May each year. Online pre-registration tends to begin in January or February on the website of the Permanent Forum. Pre-registration closes about 2-4 weeks before the session starts.
Our organization attended the other sessions of the Forum. Do we still need to pre-register?
Yes. All accredited organizations interested in attending the next session of the Forum are invited to pre-register. In addition, all representatives of accredited organizations are requested to register at their arrival at the United Nations before attending the session.
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?
All interested NGOs in consultative status should use the online pre-registration system to apply to attend the session.
Can representatives of NGOs and IPOs attend sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration?
We do not encourage attendance of sessions of the Permanent Forum without pre-registration. All participants, including those from organizations enjoying consultative status with ECOSOC and holding annual ground-passes, are strongly encouraged to pre-register and register at the site of sessions of the Permanent Forum. The United Nations Secretariat will not be in a position to register participants who did not pre-register before the opening of the session.
Can my organization make a statement at the Permanent Forum session?
During previous sessions the Permanent Forum, representatives of NGOs and indigenous peoples organizations have made presentations. Most of the organizations that have addressed the Forum do not enjoy consultative status. In other words, all participants registered to attend the session may make oral presentations, depending on availability of time.
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 and IPOs and other interested organizations. Representatives of participating organizations need to deal directly with United States embassies/consulates in their countries of residence regarding visa issues. The United Nations will send a confirmation letter to NGO and IPO representatives once they have been pre-registered. This confirmation letter may be used by NGO and IPO representatives to request a visa from United States authorities. If necessary, the Division for Social Policy and Development will assist in providing information regarding the status of NGOs and IPOs at the request of American authorities. However, the United Nations does not send unsolicited correspondence to United States embassies/consulates to validate a request made by an NGO or IPO representative to obtain a visa.
Does the United Nations provide funding for NGOs to attend the Forum?
The only UN source of funding for travel to participate in the sessions of the Permanent Forum is the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. Please note that applications close in October of the year preceding the Permanent Forum’s Session.
Can my organization make a statement at the Permanent Forum session?
During previous sessions the Permanent Forum, representatives of NGOs and organizations of indigenous populations have made presentations. Most of the organizations that addressed the Forum do not enjoy consultative status. In other words, all participants registered to attend the session may make oral presentations, depending on availability of time.
Can I submit a written statement or report to the Permanent Forum?
Indigenous organizations and NGOs have occasionally submitted reports to the Permanent Forum in the past. If your organization is interested in doing so, then you are advised to contact the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum and discuss the possibility of submitting such a report. The deadline for these reports/statements is 31 January of each year.
For further information about submitting reports, see the below excerpt form ECOSOC resolution 1996/31.
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.