Welcome to the United Nations
Addressee: UNESCO, UN entities
Full Text
The Permanent Forum recalls the request it made at its fifteenth session (E/2016/43, para. 47) for UNESCO to host a joint seminar with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other relevant United Nations mechanisms for the purpose of exploring the development of a new international mechanism on the repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains. In this regard, the Permanent Forum deeply regrets the absence of UNESCO from the expert group meeting organized by the Expert Mechanism in March 2020 in Vancouver, Canada, to discuss steps for the implementation of such a mechanism. The Permanent Forum recommends the leadership, involvement and cooperation of UNESCO in efforts to implement the recommendations arising from that meeting, as well as the previous recommendation of the Permanent Forum related to the repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains, including through the creation of an international database and inventory of such items accessible to indigenous peoples as a basis for initiating dialogue. The Permanent Forum wishes to remind UNESCO and other United Nations entities that the repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains is enshrined in articles 11 and 12 of the Declaration.
Responses
UNESCO
Through culture as a key enabler of sustainable development: − UNESCO acknowledges the value of creating inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities, and contains targets on the preservation of natural and cultural heritage (SDG 11), − as well as on the recovery and return of stolen assets (SDG 16), which also include the illicit trafficking of cultural objects. It upholds a vision of just, peaceful, equitable and inclusive societies recognizing the value of knowledge, heritage and diversity.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 21 (2022)
Area of Work
