The Forum calls upon the United Nations Development Program to develop an indigenous peoples-specific development index by country to take into account the social conditions and human rights situation of indigenous peoples
The Permanent Forum recommends that the Human Rights Council mandate the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, with the contribution of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, to undertake a study on incarceration, deaths in custody and indigenous peoples
The Permanent Forum reiterates the call, made at its fifth and eleventh sessions, upon United Nations agencies and funds to conduct and support regional and international human rights training programmes aimed at building the capacity and advocacy skills of indigenous youth. The Forum further recommends the use of youth forums, social media and other popular cultural forms of communication to disseminate information and training material on the rights of indigenous youth and to facilitate consultation processes at the national and international levels.
The Permanent Forum suggests that the Human Rights Committee also interpret the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights taking into account the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In particular, the Committee should review its General Comment No. 12 (1984) on the right to self-determination (article 1 of the Covenant) and No. 23 (1994) on the rights of persons belonging to minorities (article 27 of the Covenant) taking into account article 3 and other relevant provisions of the Declaration. In addition, in accordance with the terms of General Comment No. 12, the Committee should request State parties to the Covenant to report on their compliance with their obligations regarding the right of all peoples, including indigenous peoples, to self-determination and related rights. The Committee should request that State parties prepare the relevant sections of their reports on the implementation of the Covenant in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples.
The Permanent Forum recommends that any future agreements with the Plurinational State of Bolivia should provide, in particular, for means of protecting the territory of the Ayoreo people living in voluntary isolation
The Permanent Forum recommends that the Human Rights Council update and complete the United Nations study on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous populations, including the possible appointment of a rapporteur to carry out this task and to provide regular reports to the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Forum and other appropriate bodies.
Businesses, in their human rights due diligence processes, should meaningfully engage with indigenous peoples as rights holders in business decisions and outcomes affecting them. In that regard, free, prior and informed consent should be understood as their right to give or withhold consent.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recommends that Member States implement precautionary measures and recommendations provided by the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Permanent Forum, to prevent irreparable harm to indigenous peoples, their authorities and indigenous organizations.
The Permanent Forum recommends that Paraguay should speed up the reform of INDI and of other institutions with competence in indigenous issues so that the proper participation of indigenous peoples will strengthen their democratic representation before the legislative and judicial powers, which are still reluctant to act.
The Permanent Forum recommends that the Human Rights Council include the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a normative basis for universal periodic review.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the fact that United Nations entities and bodies, including mandate holders and, notably, OHCHR and the United Nations Environment Programme, take their share of the responsibility to ensure a safe space for Indigenous Peoples participating in United Nations meetings. The Permanent Forum requests that United Nations bodies and entities create an urgent response mechanism to acts of intimidation and reprisals against Indigenous human rights defenders cooperating with the United Nations, in line with existing United Nations guidance on protection and promotion of civic space and the Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights. The Permanent Forum will consider how to strengthen its own response mechanisms and its cooperation with the Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Human Rights, in line with General Assembly resolution 77/203, on this pressing matter, including through the appointment of focal points.
The Permanent Forum reiterates its recommendation on indigenous peoples living in voluntary and semi-voluntary isolation, or “uncontacted”, from its fourth session, and urges Governments, indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-governmental organizations and multilateral bodies to take note of and implement the Belem Declaration on Isolated Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon and Gran Chaco, as well as International Labour Convention No. 169, domestic legislation and court orders that protect and maintain the rights of these indigenous peoples and their designated territories throughout the world to exist in isolation, should they so choose. The Permanent Forum urges Governments, the United Nations system, civil society and indigenous peoples’ organizations to cooperate in immediately ensuring effective prohibition against outside encroachment, aggression, forcible assimilation, and acts and processes of genocide. Measures of protection should comprise the safeguarding of their natural environment and livelihood and minimally invasive, culturally sensitive mobile health-care services.