The Forum recommends that States consider constitutional and other legal reform and educational reform to recognize and respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity and spiritual practices, within the framework of international human rights standards, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination and segregation that has deepened historic inequalities.
As highlighted in article 31 of the Declaration, the Permanent Forum requests that both WIPO and States take effective measures and establish mechanisms to recognize the right of indigenous peoples to protect their intellectual property, including their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games, and visual and performing arts.
The Permanent Forum reiterates its recommendations emanating from the Workshop on Data Collection and Disaggregation for Indigenous Peoples (see E/C.19/2004/2), in particular recommendations 16-22 and 24.
The Permanent Forum urges United Nations bodies and specialized agencies to implement the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
The Permanent Forum commends the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people for his efforts on behalf of indigenous peoples around the world and recommends that he continue his work in conformity with the principles he has established.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the outcome of the consultation entitled “Realizing the future we want in Latin America and the Caribbean: towards a
post-2015 development agenda”, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in April 2013 at the initiative of the Government of Mexico, and values the good practice of exchange with other stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and businesses. The Forum recommends that other Member States follow the same good practice.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the organization of the informal interactive hearing by the President of the General Assembly to reflect on possible further measures necessary to enhance the participation of the representatives and institutions of indigenous peoples in all meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them. The Forum urges Member States to convene, in cooperation with indigenous peoples, regional meetings in each of the seven sociocultural regions to discuss modalities in this regard.
The Forum notes the preparation of the World Congress on Protected Areas, to be held in Durban, South Africa, in September 2003, which Forum members consider to be an important meeting calling for their attention and action. The Forum recommends that all laws, policies or work programmes on forests and protected areas guarantee, ensure and respect various aspects of indigenous peoples’ lives, such as their spiritual and cultural lives, lands and territorial rights, including sacred sites, needs and benefits, and recognize their rights of access to and control over the management of forests.
The Permanent Forum appreciates the steps taken by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNFPA and the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues for the organization of an international workshop on indigenous peoples and HIV/AIDS, and calls on Member States and United Nations entities to contribute to the workshop.
The Forum welcomes the nomination of the High Commissioner, Justice Louise Arbor, and recommends that she convene a meeting with the Forum members.
The Permanent Forum recommends that Member States take measures to advance indigenous women’s right to intercultural health through its inclusion in legal frameworks and public policies, as well as programmes to guarantee culturally, geographically and financially appropriate health and social services.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues welcomes the proposal made by the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the report on its third session, which encourages OHCHR to hold an international expert seminar on truth and reconciliation processes. This proposal of the Expert Mechanism recognizes the importance of national truth and reconciliation processes for improving relations between States and indigenous peoples and for facilitating strengthened recognition and implementation of the rights of indigenous peoples.