The Permanent Forum takes note of the recent declaration of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum, at its session held in Lima from 13 to 16 April 2008, and recommends that United Nations agencies, donors and States show their support and cooperation for the next session of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum, to be held in Colombia in 2011.
The Permanent Forum continues to be concerned that the World Bank’s new environmental and social safeguard 7 allows the conversion of the collective territories of indigenous peoples into individual ownership rights, even though it recognizes the importance of protecting the collective attachment of indigenous peoples to their lands. Providing funding for States to divide the lands of indigenous peoples generates conflict, irreparably harms livelihoods and traditional resource management strategies and erodes the governance structures of indigenous peoples. Paragraph 29 of environmental and social safeguard 7 should urgently be revised to ensure that indigenous peoples maintain their collective rights to lands, territories and resources in all projects funded by the Bank.
The Permanent Forum calls upon States that have created special national committees on the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People to cooperate more effectively with it, and would welcome invitations to attend activities of such national committees. The Permanent Forum encourages those States that have not yet done so to establish national committees on the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
The Permanent Forum recommends that FAO create a technical working group on the collective rights of indigenous peoples to lands, territories and resources, which will provide technical outputs and publications informing indigenous peoples and the Forum.
The Permanent Forum requests the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues and, specifically, those agencies working on land tenure and changes in land use, to step up cooperation in order to operationalize indicators on land tenure and changes in land use pertaining to the traditional territories (lands and waters) of indigenous peoples, as a global multipurpose indicator in order to report on status and trends, in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All relevant funds, programmes and specialized agencies should update the Forum every year on the results of this work.
The Permanent Forum recommends that United Nations entities, including the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues, take effective measures to support the promotion of indigenous languages and the successful implementation of the goals and objectives of the International Year, including in activities related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the systemwide action plan on the rights of indigenous peoples, the celebration of international days and other processes.
The Forum recommends that the Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People fully consult with the Forum regarding the preparation of the draft plan of action for the Second Decade
The Permanent Forum recommends that the General Assembly rename the Decade “Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples”.
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.
The Permanent Forum commends States for recognizing the collective rights of indigenous peoples to lands, territories and resources and at the same time urges them to take immediate steps for the implementation of those rights through programmes for mapping, titling or other actions and legislative reforms. The Forum urges States to report to it by its twentieth session on steps taken in that regard.
The Permanent Forum calls upon the Government of the United Republic of
Tanzania to immediately cease efforts to evict the Maasai people from the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The Permanent Forum expresses appreciation to all States, United Nations agencies and foundations that contributed to the Trust Fund on Indigenous Issues, including contributions for the small grants programme for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, and invites States, agencies and foundations to continue contributing generously to the Funds. The Forum urges the Voluntary Fund on Indigenous Populations to give particular support to applications from indigenous peoples from the Pacific to participate in its seventh session in 2008. The Permanent Forum encourages representatives of indigenous peoples’ organizations from the Pacific to make applications to the Fund in order to the attend the seventh session of the Permanent Forum.