The Permanent Forum invites members of all United Nations human rights treaty bodies, in particular the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to attend the annual sessions of the Permanent Forum, as observers, with the objective of increasing awareness about the distinct human rights and cultural contexts of indigenous peoples so as to enhance their work in relation to indigenous peoples and the Declaration.
The Permanent Forum invites the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights
Council on the situation of human rights defenders to prepare a study on the drivers
of attacks against indigenous human rights defenders in business contexts and invites
the Special Rapporteur to share information on progress with the Permanent Forum
at its twenty-second session, to be held in 2023.
The Permanent Forum recommends that corporations, regulating bodies and certification bodies incorporate the rights of indigenous peoples in their quality standards, operating plans, business plans and investment plans.
Consistent with articles 7 and 30 of the United Nations Declaration, States should take measures for settlement, protection and security in the post-conflict period, and for the construction of durable and lasting peace, promoting the full and effective inclusion of indigenous peoples, including indigenous women, in any initiative for peace and reconciliation.
Consistent with article 7 of the United Nations Declaration, the Permanent Forum recommends that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights urgently establish an independent international commission to investigate the assassination of Berta Cáceres and Nelson Garcia of the Lenca people of Honduras.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the intent of Nicaragua in drafting legislation on territorial regulation of Indigenous territories. The Permanent Forum urges Nicaragua to establish dialogue with the legitimate Indigenous authorities to initiate and conclude drafting of the legislation as soon as possible, in order to prevent repetition of the recent gross human rights violations against the Mayangna Sauni and Wilu communities, allegedly committed by armed settlers. It further urges Nicaragua to ensure that perpetrators are held to account through the justice system for the murders committed and for the destruction of property. Impunity is not an option.
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.
In this regard, the Forum invites the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to pay special attention to the situation of indigenous peoples and address these issues in accordance with their mandates. The Forum recommends that IOM and UNHCR develop specific guidelines on indigenous migrants and to actively participate in the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues.
The Permanent Forum recommends that Canada operationalize the Declaration by passing Bill C-262 (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) as a significant step towards reconciliation.
The Permanent Forum encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), ILO and UNDP to strengthen their collaborative framework and partnership for the promotion and implementation of indigenous peoples’ rights through joint country programmes aimed at building capacity and establishing mechanisms for consultation, participation and consent in accordance with ILO Convention C169 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Permanent Forum urges UN-Women, UNDP, other relevant United Nations agencies and Governments to support the political participation of indigenous women by assigning resources to training and exchange programmes and strengthening organization and networks of indigenous women.
The Permanent Forum recommends that non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples’ organizations and academics undertake independent studies and investigations into the violations of indigenous peoples’ land rights through illegal land expropriation and exploitation and into the issue of land, forestry, tourism and mining concessions, including:(a)Recommendations on how the rights of indigenous peoples can be legally protected;(b)The degree to which Governments ensure free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples in the approval of land concessions and mining exploration licences over their traditional lands and forests;(c)The role of other States in the promotion of agri-business and extractive industries without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples;(d)The role of multinational agri-business and extractive industries; specifically, whether corporate social responsibilities have been fulfilled and social and environmental impact assessments have been undertaken prior to the commencement of development projects.