The Permanent Forum welcomes the work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in preparation for the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages and welcomes and supports the action plan for the International Year that was developed in cooperation with Member States, the Forum, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as indigenous peoples and a range of different stakeholders. The Forum calls upon Member States to implement the action plan in partnership with indigenous peoples, respecting the principle of “nothing about us without us”, including the establishment of national steering committees and national action plans for the International Year. States should allocate adequate funding for the successful implementation of the International Year.
Furthermore, based on this plan and considering the contributions of FAO to the fight for the eradication of hunger and food insecurity and the implementation of sustainable agriculture and rural development, as well as the FAO contribution to indigenous rights through the adoption of the international treaty on genetic resources and the voluntary guidelines on the right to food, the Forum recommends that FAO consider the development of operational guidelines on indigenous peoples and a framework tool for the promotion of indigenous rights and sustainable rural development in the framework of the goals that emerged from the World Food Summit and the World Food Summit five years later, as well as those that emerged from other international conferences, summits and conventions which are relevant to indigenous peoples
The Permanent Forum welcomes the invitation extended by the Maskwacis Cree and the Confederacy of Treaty Six Chiefs to the members and the secretariat to attend the United Nations Expert Seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous peoples at the Samson Cree Nation from 25 to 27 September 2006. This is a historic first United Nations expert meeting to be held on indigenous treaty territory.
The Permanent Forum encourages Member States and relevant subnational governmental bodies and agencies to ensure the allocation of funding for the establishment of appropriate institutions, including by establishing permanent linguist positions, to promote the conservation, revitalization, use and development of indigenous languages. Particular attention should be given to languages at risk of extinction.
The Permanent Forum supports the call of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to redress treaty violations. Indigenous Peoples deprived of treaty rights are also at risk; the Forum urges relevant States to adopt constructive agreements and appropriate laws to ensure Indigenous lands and territories are protected in the face of mineral extraction and development.