We encourage the Economic and Social Council in respect of the following recommendation: the Council should request that the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean continue and strengthen its efforts regarding the production, elaboration and use of relevant information from population census, household surveys and other adequate sources, in strong interaction with indigenous peoples, aiming at improving the socio-economic conditions and active participation of indigenous peoples in the development process throughout the Latin American region. In addition, the Forum recommends that in all relevant data-collection processes, Member States and the United Nations organizations take the steps described in paragraphs 84-88 below
The Permanent Forum recommends that States include in all education curricula, in particular the school system, a discussion of the doctrine of discovery/dispossession and its contemporary manifestations, including land laws and policies of removal.
The Permanent Forum recommends that States recognize the language rights of indigenous peoples and develop language policies to promote and protect indigenous languages, with a focus on high-quality education in indigenous languages, including by supporting full immersion methods such as language nests and innovative methods such as nomadic schools. It is essential that States develop evidence-based legislation and policies to promote and protect indigenous languages and, in that regard, they should collect and disseminate baseline information on the status of indigenous languages. These activities should be conducted in close cooperation with the indigenous peoples concerned.
The Forum recommends that the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna facilitate the full and effective participation, including funding, of indigenous peoples, particularly women and youth, and the Forum in the work to implement these conventions, and involve them fully in policy formulation and in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of environmental programmes or projects.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the measures undertaken by several countries that aim, inter alia, to explore and develop alternative sources of income, significantly reduce the exploitation of natural resources, enhance conservation of biological diversity and establish measures in favour of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation, such as the national initiative undertaken by Ecuador entitled “Yasuni-ITT initiative”. The Permanent Forum recommends that such measures respect the right to free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned.
Scientists, policymakers and the international community as a whole should undertake regular consultations with indigenous peoples so that their studies and decisions will be informed by indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and experiences. The Permanent Forum can play a role in ensuring that the traditional knowledge and best practices of indigenous peoples relevant to fighting climate change and its impacts will be considered in the negotiation processes leading to the Copenhagen Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and beyond, including through discussions with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Permanent Forum is concerned by the killings, violence and harassment targeted at indigenous human rights defenders, which are also frequently committed with impunity. The Permanent Forum is concerned that, despite international condemnation, these criminal acts of violence persist, especially in a small number of countries in South and Central America, Africa and Asia.
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.
The Forum recommends that, under the aegis of the Forum, effective cooperation should be established and further developed between the Forum, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the special rapporteurs who address issues relating to indigenous peoples, with a view towards evaluating their activities, ensuring complementary efforts and avoiding duplication, in the light of resolution 2003/55 of the Commission on Human Rights.
The Permanent Forum recommends that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and other relevant United Nations agencies and offices provide necessary information and training on the universal periodic review process for and with indigenous peoples.
The Permanent Forum recommends that States establish, where it does not already exist, a national dialogue with indigenous peoples on human rights, based on the Declaration.
The Permanent Forum encourages the Government of Paraguay to continue to accept assistance from United Nations agencies and programmes and national cooperation agencies in order to develop policies aimed at the elimination of forced labour and other forms of servitude, especially in matters relating to the most urgent challenges: food, health, housing and education.