The Permanent Forum recommends that the Commission on Human Rights adopt creative methods of work, with particular regard for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, including the appointment of an indigenous Co-Chair of the working group of the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate a draft declaration in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 49/214
The Permanent Forum welcomes the work of the Government of Namibia in the development and validation of the white paper on the rights of indigenous peoples, developed with the support of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Forum encourages the Government to take measures to ensure that the white paper is approved and effectively implemented, in cooperation with indigenous peoples in Namibia. Furthermore, the Forum encourages other States, in particular African States, to consider similar measures, consistent with the Declaration.
Many States have established mechanisms to protect human rights. However, the Permanent Forum is concerned that such mechanisms might prioritize individual rights over collective rights. It calls upon States, in cooperation with national human rights institutions, to comply with their commitments made in the outcome document of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, with the aim of achieving the full enforcement of the collective rights of indigenous peoples.
The Forum calls upon the European Commission to establish further collaboration with it on indigenous issues.
The Permanent Forum recommends that OHCHR continue to contribute to strengthening the working relations between the treaty bodies and the three United Nations mechanisms which have specific mandates to address indigenous peoples’ issues in order to enhance compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In this regard, OHCHR could facilitate the participation of the Chairperson of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum at the next annual meeting of the chairpersons of the treaty bodies.
The Permanent Forum encourages the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Human Rights Council to continue the process of addressing rights related to treaties and agreements between indigenous peoples and the United States and Canada, including through the consideration and implementation of the recommendations resulting from the first two United Nations treaty seminars, held in 2003 and 2006, and by taking steps to hold a third seminar, as mandated by the Economic and Social Council, and urges the Expert Mechanism to advance the work on treaties.