The Permanent Forum urges that discussions at the forthcoming summit to renew the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, scheduled to be held in Brazil in August 2023, fully involve Indigenous Peoples from the Amazon region in determining a road map that addresses their situation, including cross-border illegal activities and organized crime.
The Permanent Forum reiterates its previous recommendations on the ongoing plastic crisis and the importance of the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in the negotiations of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme on an international treaty to tackle the crisis. The Permanent Forum welcomes the discussions of the Human Rights Council on the matter at its fifty-second session.
The Permanent Forum acknowledges the progress made on its recommendation to FAO and WHO to revise the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management to include Indigenous Peoples’ views. The Permanent Forum urges FAO and WHO to develop guidance notes on the risk of pesticide use in Indigenous Peoples’ territories, in consultation with Indigenous Peoples.
The inclusion and full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, as beneficiaries and partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, while avoiding negative impacts on their rights are essential. The Permanent Forum recommends that States and relevant United Nations entities cooperate with Indigenous Peoples to fully consider their situations during the midpoint review at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2023, including in the preparations at the high-level political forum on sustainable development.
The Permanent Forum recognizes the efforts of WIPO to support Indigenous Peoples in taking part in its processes, including through training programmes and support from its voluntary fund for Indigenous Peoples. It urges WIPO and its member States to ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in meetings, including the Diplomatic Conference in 2024 and its related preparatory meetings, on one or more international legal instruments relating to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expression, genetic resources and folklore.
The Permanent Forum is concerned that HIV acquisition rates are higher in Indigenous communities than in the general population. The Permanent Forum encourages the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to continue its focus on Indigenous Peoples.
The Permanent Forum urges Member States and relevant United Nations entities to ensure the right and access to media by and for Indigenous Peoples, as enshrined in article 16 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It calls upon Member States to cooperate with Indigenous journalists, as well as with OHCHR and other relevant United Nations entities, on the effective protection of Indigenous journalists from criminalization and violence.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues welcomes the report of the international expert group meeting on the theme “Truth, transitional justice and reconciliation processes” (E/C.19/2023/3). The Permanent Forum endorses the recommendations in the report urging Member States to include Indigenous representatives and leaders in all transitional justice institutions and conflict prevention initiatives and to develop training programmes on human rights and Indigenous Peoples’ rights for concerned government agencies. It recommends that the Human Rights Council request that OHCHR, in cooperation with relevant United Nations entities, prepare a companion report by 2025 related to the guidance note of the Secretary-General on the United Nations approach to transitional justice.
The Permanent Forum notes the forthcoming Summit of the Future and recommends that the Secretary-General ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples.
The Permanent Forum recommends that, in 2025, the General Assembly convene a high-level plenary meeting known as the “World Conference on Indigenous Peoples Plus 10” to evaluate the progress on the commitments made in the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, the Permanent Forum recommends that the Assembly request the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly a constructive and comprehensive report, developed with the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, prior to that Conference, on the progress made in the implementation of the outcome document and the Alta outcome document, as well as on challenges and opportunities for further action. It also calls upon the Assembly to support the preparatory efforts of Indigenous Peoples.
The Permanent Forum welcomes the work of the Indigenous Coordinating Body for Enhanced Participation in the United Nations in furthering the objectives of resolution 71/321 and agrees on the need to establish a new and distinct status for Indigenous Peoples’ participation at the General Assembly. It also welcomes the organization in November 2022 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the expert workshop on enhanced participation in the Human Rights Council. The Permanent Forum looks forward to reading the report and the recommendations from the workshop when they are submitted to the Human Rights Council prior to its fifty-third session. The Permanent Forum calls upon the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly to ensure further progress on this vital matter. The Permanent Forum encourages Member States to financially support the work of the Indigenous Coordinating Body.
The Permanent Forum reminds the Secretary-General, through the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, on the continuing relevance of monitoring and reporting on trends related to intimidation and reprisals against Indigenous Peoples who seek to engage with the United Nations. Indigenous Peoples’ representatives have a right to be protected from reprisals for their participation in meetings at the United Nations, including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.