The Forum recommends that in order to raise further awareness of indigenous peoples and the Millennium Development Goals, the Economic and Social Council High-level Segment to be held from 29 June to 1 July 2005, and the General Assembly Summit to be held in September 2005 allow presentations of recommendations of the Forum at its fourth session on the Millennium Development Goals by the Chairperson of the Forum
The Permanent Forum commends the establishment and achievements of the Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Programme of UNDP in Asia, and calls on UNDP to ensure that the funding of that programme will be increased and that similar programmes will be set up in other regions.
The Permanent Forum notes the valuable work carried out by indigenous communities and organizations thanks to the support of the trust fund in support of the Second International Decade and expresses its deep appreciation to the States that have contributed to the fund. However, the Forum deplores the fact that despite increasing project proposals, the funds available for grants have been diminishing. The Forum therefore strongly appeals to all States, the United Nations system, foundations and other donors to make generous contributions to the trust fund in support of the Second International Decade.
The Permanent Forum, with the assistance of relevant member of the Inter-Agency Support Group, and in collaboration with indigenous experts, will conduct timely technical reviews at critical stages in the negotiations of international standards on the protection of traditional knowledge, such as the international regime on access and benefit-sharing and the deliberations of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to evaluate consistency and harmonization with existing and developing international legal instruments, standards and arrangements and, in particular, the human rights of indigenous peoples.
The Permanent Forum urges Member States and all other relevant actors at all levels, in cooperation with indigenous peoples, to issue their action plans by the end of 2022, and that they subsequently monitor their implementation and update them with specific measurement indicators every three years during the International Decade
The Permanent Forum encourages United Nations entities, the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant international and regional bodies to align their policies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples should be employed within those entities as part of diversity and inclusion policies and to ensure Indigenous perspectives.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the urgent need to increase commitment to the health of Indigenous women globally, as their health needs are often underserved and they lack culturally appropriate care, including as a result of the criminalization of traditional childbirth practices. The Forum urges Member States and United Nations entities to collaborate in developing programmes and allocating funds that prioritize the health of, and midwifery services for, Indigenous Women; and in increasing the visibility of the situation with regard to the health of Indigenous women through more disaggregated data. The Forum calls for the revision of discriminatory laws affecting Indigenous women. The Forum invites the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund to partner in identifying and documenting good practices of culturally appropriate health interventions from their work at the country level, including supporting Indigenous women and girls in exercising their sexual and reproductive rights. The Forum requests that the entities compile a comprehensive progress report, to be submitted at the 2025 session of the Forum.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the importance of financing for Indigenous Peoples and appreciates the Global Environment Facility’s target of allocating 20 per cent of its funds to support initiatives for Indigenous Peoples. The Forum urges the Facility to create direct financing mechanisms for Indigenous Peoples.