The Forum recommends that States consider constitutional and other legal reform and educational reform to recognize and respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity and spiritual practices, within the framework of international human rights standards, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination and segregation that has deepened historic inequalities.
Effective access to justice for indigenous peoples implies access to both the State legal system and their own systems of justice. Without accessible State courts or other legal mechanisms through which they can protect their rights, indigenous peoples become vulnerable to actions that threaten their lands, natural resources, cultures, sacred sites and livelihoods. Concurrently, the recognition of indigenous peoples’ own justice systems is pivotal in ensuring their rights to maintain their autonomy, culture and traditions.
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.
The Forum recommends that Governments and the United Nations system, through its country presences, support indigenous media and promote the engagement of indigenous youth in indigenous programmes.
The global engagement of indigenous peoples at the international level has led to some positive institutional developments, including the establishment of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples can play an important role in the fight against climate change. Member States and United Nations entities should ensure that any activities related to the use of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples respect indigenous peoples’ own protocols and consent agreements for managing access to their traditional knowledge. Strengthening and ensuring the full participation of indigenous peoples at all levels is also critical for the design and implementation of climate policies, plans, programmes and projects at the local, national and global levels.
It is also vital that Governments recognize indigenous peoples’ institutions, especially their representative institutions. These institutions help promote and protect the cultures, livelihoods, identities and languages of indigenous peoples and other essential elements of their lives. These institutions should be supported and strengthened as essential elements of diverse and multicultural States. The Permanent Forum notes that many Governments already recognize indigenous peoples’ representative institutions at the municipal and national levels. However, they are not yet recognized at the international level.
The Forum recommends that Governments introduce indigenous languages in public administration in indigenous territories where feasible.
The Forum recommends that the United Nations and Member States recognize the cultural rights of indigenous peoples which include the rights to organize oneself freely and to administer one’s own cultural, sports, social and religious institutions. For this purpose, the Forum encourages the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies to consider establishing an international centre for multicultural and multiracial studies.
The Forum recommends that UNESCO bring together indigenous experts and specialists to constitute an international network which integrates the domains of culture, education, science and communication in order to forge a partnership between UNESCO and indigenous peoples.
The Forum notes that indigenous peoples are increasingly confronted with issues and problems related to more urban characteristics, such as access to adequate housing, services and infrastructure in human settlements. It therefore invites Governments and local authorities to adopt policies and take necessary measures to meet the changing needs of indigenous peoples within the global process of the urban/rural dynamics and continuum. The Forum also recommends that United Nations agencies, funds and programmes increase their focus on this global trend and take actions in their respective areas of work so as to positively affect indigenous peoples. It recommends that the United Nations system, especially the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, submit a report on policies and programmes in this area to the Forum, and to participate in a dialogue with the Forum at its third session.
The Forum recommends that the World Tourism Organization prepare an initial paper on the issue of tourism and indigenous peoples, taking into account the positive and negative impacts, with a view to preparing guidelines on tourism and indigenous peoples.