The Permanent Forum recommends that indigenous peoples’ organizations, as well as the United Nations entities in the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development and the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues, consult indigenous youth-led organizations in order to include issues pertaining to indigenous youth in their work at the local, national, regional and global levels.
Indigenous communities and organizations are urged to: (a) establish effective arrangements for the participation of indigenous parents and community members in decision-making regarding the planning, delivery and evaluation of education services for their children; (b) actively participate in the monitoring of progress towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 2; c) Improve the coordination between indigenous and teachers' organizations to assess curricula gaps and improve teacher-training modules on indigenous needs
The Permanent Forum recommends that the President of the General Assembly take immediate steps to ensure the full, equal, direct and effective participation of indigenous peoples throughout all aspects and processes of the high-level plenary meeting/World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in order to achieve an action-oriented, concise, inclusive, constructive and comprehensive outcome that will genuinely promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (art. 18).
The Permanent Forum recommends that joint regional and/or thematic preparatory conferences, workshops or other events be organized with the support of Member States, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and indigenous peoples, with the full participation of indigenous peoples and Member States, as well as the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Permanent Forum.
The Permanent Forum recommends to the President of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly the continuation of the practice, established during the sixty-sixth session of the Assembly, of appointing a State representative and an indigenous peoples’ representative to conduct inclusive informal consultations on his behalf in order to build consensus on the themes of the round table and panel discussions and the content of the outcome document of the World Conference, as well as to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in the process.
Further, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal on ensuring access to affordable and modern energy for all (Goal 7) is posing threats as well as providing opportunities for indigenous peoples. The Permanent Forum encourages States to work with indigenous peoples to develop guidelines for responsible renewable energy development.
The Permanent Forum invites the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination to conduct a study on the human rights abuses against Indigenous Peoples of the Sahel region by mercenaries and other non-State armed actors.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the efforts of WIPO to support Indigenous Peoples in taking part in its processes, including through training programmes and support from its voluntary fund for Indigenous Peoples. It urges WIPO and its member States to ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in meetings, including the Diplomatic Conference in 2024 and its related preparatory meetings, on one or more international legal instruments relating to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expression, genetic resources and folklore.
The Forum urges international bodies and national Governments to allocate funding and develop policies for training and certifying interpreters in Indigenous Peoples’ languages, ensuring that they receive equitable compensation and support. These measures are vital for maintaining linguistic heritage and promoting inclusivity and equity in public services and judicial proceedings.
The Permanent Forum reiterates its call upon African Member States to extend invitations to the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other mandate holders to conduct country visits to foster transparent and constructive dialogue. The Forum notes the invitations from the Governments of Namibia and the United Republic of Tanzania to the Special Rapporteur to undertake country visits and invites Member States to provide financial support to realize these visits.
The Permanent Forum recommends that Member States in the region enhance the protection of Indigenous Peoples through recognition and autonomy, in line with the Declaration, by revising legal and policy frameworks. Governments should rectify the injustices of the colonial past, taking into consideration Indigenous Peoples and their perspectives, in particular those of Indigenous youth, ensuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making.