The Permanent Forum recommends that the World Bank brings its policy on indigenous peoples (OP 4.10) into full compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Forum attaches particular importance to the need for the Bank to adopt the standard of free, prior and informed consent and, in general, to institutionalize and operationalize an approach based on human rights. The Forum reiterates its recommendation, made at its twelfth session that the emerging instruments of the Bank and other agencies must be harmonized with the Declaration, which is regarded as a reflection of the minimum human rights standards necessary for the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples, nations and communities. Such instruments should be consistent with or exceed those minimum standards. The Forum underlines the need for the Bank’s operational policies to use language that is consistent with the Declaration.
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.