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Addressee: Member States, UN systems and intergovernmental organizations.
Full Text
States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations should support the efforts of indigenous peoples to build, articulate and implement their visions of and strategies for development. They should provide adequate funding, technical and institutional support and training to enable indigenous peoples to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and for indigenous peoples to participate effectively in the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects
Responses
WIPO: In its report to the Fifth sesion, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) notes that Member States of WIPO have expressed their "unanimous support for directly involving as much as possible representatives of Indigenous and local communities in the work of the intergovernmental committee (IGC)". In this regard, a fast-track accreditation procedure for NGOs has been in place, with more than 120 NGOs receiving accreditation and a majority representing indigenous peoples. A number of Member states have adopted the practice of funding the participation of indigenous representatives in IGC sesions.
WIPO General Assembly has recently established the WIPO Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities. The new Fund is intended to facilitate the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities in sessions of the IGC. Further information on the voluntary fund is available at: http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/ngoparticipation/voluntary_fund/index.html
The Government of Argentina (E/C.19/2006/4) reports the following:
It should be noted that the National Institute of Indigenous Affairs provides technical and financial assistance for the implementation of sustainable development projects that respect identity, that is with the participation of indigenous peoples at all stages. Such participation results in the development of responsibilities, self-management and a sound basis for group and community work. In 2005, sustainable development projects were equivalent to $367,000. Please see report for more details.
UNICEF: UNICEF has undertaken projects which have involved the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples in Venezuela, the Philippines, and Belize. It has strengthened its alliances with indigenous leaders and national authorities to ensure participation of indigenous groups in the design and implementation of programs within their communities (for more details, please see UNICEF's Report to the Fifth Session (E/C.19/2006/6/Add.11).
UNDP: UNDP builds the capacity of indigenous peoples to localize the MDGs by providing small grants. Through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP), UNDP is supporting a number of indigenous peoples organizations. Please see E/C.19/2006/6/Add.6 for examples of these projects. In addition GEF SGP, in partnership with the Civil Society Division of UNDP, has been working to facilitate indigenous peoples' access to grants through innovative methods such as participatory video-making. Two consultative workshops were held and in 2006 a "how-to" handbook on participatory video will be launched.
WIPO: In its report to the Fifth session (E/C.19/2006/6/Add.13), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) notes that Consultations and workshops at the national and regional level have aimed at developing focused input for the IGC, have included Members of the Permanent Forum and indignenous and local communities as speakers and participants. WIPO Secretariat has continued its practice of consulting with interested representatives of indigenous and local communities on draft documents being developed for the IGC. WIPO General Assembly has recently established the WIPO Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities. The new Fund is intended to facilitate the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities in sessions of the IGC. Further information on the voluntary fund is available at: http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/ngoparticipation/voluntary_fund/index.html. Please see report for further details.
IFAD: In 2005, IFAD's Executive Board approved six loans for projects in support of indigenous peoples and pastoralists, with a special focus on women. Three projects will be undertaken in Asia (China, India and Lao People's Democratic Republic), one in Latin America (Mexico), and one in Africa (the United Republic of Tanzania). The total cost amounted to USD 190.3 million of which IFAD provided USD 62.2 million. Most of the project will promote rural financial services and microenterprises through the creation of self-help groups, many of which will be made up of indigenous women. In 2005 IFAD also approved two insitutional grants to indigenous organizations and their supporting institutions at a total cost of $350,000. The first grant was to the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ($150,000) for the development of indicators, and the second to the United Nations Institute for Social Development. Finally a country-specific grant of USD500,000 was provided to Guatemala (National Peace Fund) to assist households affected by Hurricane Stan. Please see E/C.19/2006/6/Add.1 for more details.
UNESCO: UNESCO has supported cultural maping with indigenous communities to elucidate indigenous knowledge systems, institutions, aspirations and cultural practices in order to relate them to action and policies concerning the development of indigenous peoples. In February 2006, UNESCO organized an international workshop on cultural resource mapping in Havana to assess lessons learned from projects around the world., with a comprehensive presentation from a member of the Permanent Forum. Several recommendations were made, including sharing its findings with UNDP and the UN Environment Program. The meeting underlined that cultural mapping should be recognized as part of a larger process of building mutual consent between marginalized communities and more dominant groups, including the State. Please see E/C.19/2006/
Final Report of UNPFII Session 4 (2005)
Area of Work
