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Addressee: CBD
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The Permanent Forum applauds the effective participation mechanisms for indigenous peoples in such mechanisms as the Convention on Biological Diversity Working Group on article 8 (j) and related provisions, and recommends that, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, such practices be extended to all critical areas of interest to indigenous peoples, such as the Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing and in particular the Working Group on Protected Areas.
Responses
SCBD reports: New recommendations arising from both the 7th session (2008) and the 8th session (2009) of the UNPFII made to the Convention will be considered at the 6th meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) and related provisions, when it meets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2-6 November, 2009 and then forwarded to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties for final endorsement and action (October 2010, Nagoya, Japan). However, it is important to note that some of the recommendations arising from the report of the UNPFII at its 7th session (refer document E/2008/43) are already in the process of being addressed and/or may be related to previous recommendations and current processes. The Secretariat therefore takes this opportunity for a quick update on new recommendations.
The Working Group on Article 8(j) is unique both within and beyond the Convention on Biological Diversity and deals specifically with the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities. At the 6th meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) (Malaysia, 2-5th November 2009), participants will discuss a multi-year programme of work for Article 8(j) and related provisions and in this discussion, will consider, amongst other things, if the working group could be used as a think tank for important issues such as climate change and protected areas. That said, other meetings of the Convention have multiple interest holders and a balance must be achieved for all interested parties including indigenous and local communities. In such cases, indigenous and local communities can enjoy effective participation mechanisms but cannot be elevated above other parties. The Working Group on ABS and the ninth meeting of the COP in its most recent decisions has recognized the importance of the participation of indigenous and local communities in the elaboration and negotiation of the international regime on access and benefit sharing and the co-chairperson of the Working Group are endeavouring to ensure that representatives of indigenous and local communities can make timely interventions, within the rules of procedure.
The Working Group on Article 8 (j) is unique both within and beyond the Convention on Biological Diversity and deals specifically with the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities. At the 6th meeting of the Working Group on Article 8 (j) (Malaysia, 2 to 5 November 2009), participants discussed a multi-year programme of work concerning article 8 (j) and related provisions and considered, inter alia, whether the Working Group could be used as a think tank for such important issues as climate change and protected areas. That said, other meetings of the Convention comprise multiple interest holders, and a balance must be achieved for all interested parties, including indigenous and local communities. In such cases, indigenous and local communities can enjoy effective participation mechanisms but cannot be elevated above other parties.
The Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing and the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, in its most recent decisions, have recognized the importance of the participation of indigenous and local communities in the elaboration and negotiation of the international regime on access and benefit-sharing, and the co-chairpersons of the Working Group are endeavouring to ensure that representatives of indigenous and local communities can make timely interventions, within the rules of procedure.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 7 (2008)
Area of Work
