The Permanent Forum takes note of the Deatnu (Tana/Teno) river fishing agreement between the Governments of Finland and Norway that was adopted by their respective Parliaments in March 2017. The Sami Parliaments of Finland and Norway have informed the Forum that the agreement was adopted without the free, prior and informed consent of the Sami. The Forum requests the Governments of Finland and Norway to renegotiate the agreement with the full and effective participation of Sami rights holders.
The Permanent Forum recalls its recommendations contained in paragraphs 52, 54, 55 and 58 of the report on its seventh session (ibid., chap. I, sect. B) and expresses concern for the human rights of indigenous peoples in the context of Non Self-Governing Territory issues and those seeking reinscription as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and calls upon the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and other mandate holders to examine and report on the impact on the human rights of those indigenous peoples in that regard.
The Permanent Forum recommends that States ensure access to justice for indigenous peoples, including indigenous women, through formal justice institutions, national human rights institutions and other forms of redress or recourse, all while taking into account indigenous peoples’ customary laws, institutions and processes, consistent with articles 21, 22 and 34 of the Declaration.
The Forum, recalling its recommendation at its second session (para. 18) regarding an art competition among indigenous children for a logo/visual identifier for the Forum, decides to renew for another year its call for the submission of artwork by indigenous children, and calls for as wide a diseemination of information on the competition as possible so that the artwork can be received in time for the Forum's selection at the fifth session
The Forum recommends that the Committee on the Rights of the Child, at its special discussion day on the indigenous child, to be held on 19 September 2003, in addition to considering reports from States parties, pay special attention to issues related to safeguarding the integrity of indigenous families.
Recalling the special theme of its second session, "Indigenous children and youth", the Permanent Forum confirms its commitment to make indigenous children and youth an ongoing part of its work. In so doing, it acknowledges the efforts made by organizations representing indigenous peoples, United Nations bodies, especially the Committee on the Rights of the Child and States, to address the urgent needs of indigenous children and youth, and encourages partners of the Forum towards further collaboration regarding this crucial cross-cutting issue.
The Permanent Forum recommends that staff in country offices as well as those who work on specific countries from their own headquarters ensure the full participation of indigenous peoples in conducting evaluations under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as recommended in the 2004 framework.
The Permanent Forum denounces the extrajudicial killings of indigenous leaders and activists in several Asian States, as reported by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and urges the concerned countries to investigate these reported cases and to provide redress to the relatives of the victims.