Thursday, September 11, 2008

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a new United Nations mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples. This mechanism has been created by the Human Rights Council following an informal meeting on the most appropriate mechanisms to continue the work of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

The Expert Mechanism is a subsidiary expert mechanism of the Human Rights Council with a specific mandate. Composed of five experts, the Expert Mechanism will provide thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Human Rights Council, the main human rights body of the United Nations. This expertise will be provided in the manner and form requested by the Council:

The thematic expertise will focus mainly on studies and research-based advice; the mechanism may suggest proposals to the Council for its considerations and approval, within the scope of its work as set out by the Council.

The Expert Mechanism will hold its first session from 1 to 3 October 2008 at the United Nations Office in Geneva. Registration for the Expert Mechanism is now open on line. Please for further information see the accreditation page.

Finally, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been requested to provide human, technical and financial assistance to the Expert Mechanism for the effective fulfilment of its mandate. The Office can be
contacted for further information.