The Permanent Forum welcomes the results of the 2018 High-level Expert Seminar on Indigenous Food Systems, in particular the creation of an online global hub on indigenous food systems, and would like to recommend that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) continue work on: (a) Indigenous young people towards the creation of a forum on indigenous young people in the coming years; (b) Indigenous food systems, in particular in relation to the links with traditional knowledge, climate change and the respect of indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, territories and resources; (c) Indigenous women (the global campaign on indigenous women and the leadership and food security schools for indigenous women).
The Permanent Forum recommends that the President of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly, in the selection of co-chairs and other members of the two plenary meetings, the three interactive round-table discussions and the one interactive panel discussion during the World Conference, in addition to the informal interactive hearing to be held before June 2014, apply the criteria of regional representation of indigenous peoples; gender balance; inclusion of indigenous elders and youth; and inclusion of indigenous persons with disabilities. The Forum offers its assistance in identifying potential co-chairs and other members.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the importance of data disaggregation, as noted in target 17.18 of the 2030 Agenda, and in this regard, it is aware of the good practices promoted by the Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The Forum recommends that ECLAC, in cooperation with UNFPA and others, redouble efforts to ensure data disaggregation for indigenous peoples and promote the inclusion of complementary indicators on indigenous peoples’ rights in Governments’ national reports for the Sustainable Development Goals and the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, adopted at the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Forum further recommends that ECLAC provide a guidance note and organize a mutual learning event, jointly with other regional commissions, in order to share best practices of data disaggregation on the basis of indigenous identifiers and self-identification, as used in the 2010 round of census in several countries in Latin America.
Urgent transformational actions by States and other development actors for Indigenous Peoples must be based on a human rights framework enabling the identification of the root causes of inequality and providing mechanisms to tackle systemic discrimination and racism and must contribute to reforming discriminatory laws and policies and strengthening the accountability of States, including ensuring democratic space for all.
The Permanent Forum reiterates the recommendation it made at its twenty-second session that Member States ratify and uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on a communications procedure. The Forum expresses deep concern over the high incidences of suicide, trauma from harsh incarceration conditions, and adverse experiences in out-of-home care affecting Indigenous children and adolescents in Australia and globally.