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 Forum recommends that UNDP continue its work on supporting local-level initiatives, such as the equator initiative, the community water initiative, the community-based initiative and the assisting communities together project.
The Permanent Forum is concerned by the adverse effects of climate change and irresponsible resource extraction on Indigenous Peoples’ lands and territories. The Forum calls upon Member States, the United Nations and other international organizations to support Indigenous-led initiatives to mitigate these impacts and stresses the importance of self-governance of Indigenous Peoples in managing these natural resources.
The Permanent Forum supports the work of the Special Representative to urge States to integrate human rights into those areas that most affect business practices, including corporate law, export credit and insurance, investments and trade agreements. The Forum suggests that the Special Representative urge States to ensure that such business practices comply with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Forum urges the Special Representative to incorporate the specific views and distinct perspectives of indigenous peoples on social and economic development. Regarding the Americas, corporations must also comply with therulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which construe the States’ obligations under International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries with regard to the Declaration as extending even to States that have not ratified the Convention. The Forum recommends that this principle be applied in other jurisdictions.
The Permanent Forum encourages the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to continue its efforts in operationalizing the principle of free, prior and informed consent in its investments, including through the engagement of indigenous experts in project delivery teams.