The Permanent Forum welcomes the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its 10th meeting of the Code of Ethical Conduct to Ensure Respect for the Cultural and Intellectual Heritage of Indigenous and Local Communities Relevant to the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity (the Tkarihwaié:ri code of ethical conduct), which arose from a Forum recommendation made at its second session, and invites parties and Governments, international agencies and all those working with indigenous communities to make use of the code for research and access to, use, exchange and management of information concerning traditional knowledge.
This dialogue follows on the international expert group meeting on the theme “Conservation and the rights of indigenous peoples” (E/C.19/2019/7). The Permanent Forum endorses the recommendations from the meeting and urges States, conservation organizations, indigenous peoples and United Nations entities to work together in implementing the recommendations.
The Permanent Forum recommends that Governments and United Nations agencies assign resources for communication activities, strengthen access to information and draw greater attention to the issues of indigenous peoples in the media, using various forms of media outreach, in order to complement the activities of the Department of Public Information.
The Permanent Forum appoints Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Mr. Aqquluk Lynge as its special rapporteurs to prepare a report on “Impact of climate change mitigation measures on the territories and lands of indigenous peoples”, to be submitted to the next Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to be considered at the seventh session of the Permanent Forum.
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.
Governments should support training in sustainable consumption towards a sustainable lifestyle and follow up initiatives, including networks and smalls grants
The Permanent Forum recommends that FAO develop an action plan to identify priorities with indigenous peoples to support their participation in the 2022 International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Affirmation of the status of indigenous peoples as “peoples” is important in fully respecting and protecting their human rights. Consistent with its 2010 report (E/2010/43-E/C.19/2010/15), the Permanent Forum calls upon the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and especially including the Nagoya Protocol, to adopt the terminology “indigenous peoples and local communities” as an accurate reflection of the distinct identities developed by those entities since the adoption of the Convention almost 20 years ago
The Permanent Forum calls upon Member States to ensure that the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) is aligned with the rights affirmed in the Declaration, and invites UNEP to organize a dialogue to discuss the Rio+20 outcome, its implications for indigenous peoples and its implementation.
The Forum, noting that work will commence shortly on a convention of cultural diversity, requests Member States to work with representatives of indigenous peoples to UNESCO to develop a document that adequately protects indigenous cultural heritage.
The Permanent Forum supports collaborations between indigenous groups and conservation organizations that bring together traditional and scientific knowledge holders to add the wealth of current and historical knowledge of indigenous peoples to the analysis of impacts of climate change and to mitigation solutions and adaptation strategies — recognizing and respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the provisions of article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Forum recommends that the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee continue to cooperate, where relevant, with other organizations and agencies within the United Nations system, such as the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.