World Conference on Indigenous Peoples Follow-up: Deadline April 6

Indigenous Peoples around the world are invited to provide their valuable input in responding a questionnaire on the follow up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples 2014 by 6 April 2015 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCIP

UCTP submission to UNPFII under Item 8: Future work of the Permanent Forum, including matters of the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 

Item 8: Future work of the Permanent Forum, 

including matters of the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues 

Wednesday, 29 May, 2013 

Submission by the United Confederation of Taíno People (Caribbean Regional) 

Presented by Roberto Mukaro Borrero 

Takahi kena hahom. Greetings and thank you Mr. Chair: 

The United Confederation of Taíno People is a regional initiative representing Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean Islands. We have participated at every session of the UNPFII seeking to raise the visibility and promote a better understanding of the situations of Indigenous Peoples from this region, which is connected to Latin America in these proceedings. 

Indeed, while the term Latin America and the Caribbean is promoted at various levels throughout the Permanent Forum sessions, as well as throughout the United Nations system, the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean is unfortunately a rarity rather than the norm. 

On the unusual occasion when Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous islanders in particular, are highlighted within the system, there has been very little action on the part of U.N agencies or governments to engage in meaningful dialog or follow-up. 

For example, the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, under Item 6 Social and economic development, section b-85 states, and I quote: 

“ It is recommended that representatives of Caribbean indigenous peoples should be included in region-specific consultations and conferences in Latin America and the Caribbean, and on steering committees for planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Second International Decade. Serious consideration should also be given to organizing a special regional consultative session focusing on the unique situation of Caribbean indigenous peoples, which would take place in the Caribbean, hosted by a Member State and a local indigenous community.” 

Mr. Chair, to date there has been no such meeting and we are now nearing the close of the second Decade. 

With this in mind, the United Confederation of Taíno People recommends that the Permanent Forum: 

1.) Call on the Inter-Agency Support Group and Governments to support a regional consultative meeting on the situation of Caribbean Indigenous including Indigenous Peoples of non-self governing territories and unincorporated territories in the region, without discrimination. 

 2.) In cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, organize and hold an expert group meeting on the situation of Indigenous Peoples of non-self governing territories and unincorporated territories in 2014 and report on said meeting at its 13th session. 

Hahom (thank you).

Information Note for Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations on the Twelfth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

We welcome you to New York for the twelfth session, which starts on 20 May 2013 and ends on 31 May 2013. The attachment to this letter provides an outline of matters pertaining to the session.

We are pleased to announce that the renovations of most of the Conference Rooms at the United Nations Headquarters are almost completed. The opening of the session will be held in the General Assembly Hall and will commence at 11am. In the afternoon and for the rest of the session, the meeting will be in Trusteeship Council Chamber.

The twelfth session of the Permanent Forum will be significant because it is the Permanent Forum’s review year with special emphasis on the implementation of UNPFII recommendations on: (i) health; (ii) education; and (iii) culture.

Also, based on its methodology of organizing in-depth dialogues with UN agencies, the Forum will hold a dialogue with the World Bank; Asian Development Bank; African Development Bank; Inter-American Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

The special regional focus of the Forum will be on indigenous peoples in Africa. A half-day discussion will be devoted to this region.

Other features of the Forum’s twelfth session will include Human Rights, the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (2014), Discussions on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and discussions on a number of studies completed this year by members of the Permanent Forum.

We take this opportunity to draw your attention to the preparatory meeting of the Indigenous Global Caucus on the weekend before the Permanent Forum session 18 – 19 May 2013. As in previous years, the meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of the Church Center for the United Nations at 777 UN Plaza (corner of East 44th Street and 1st Avenue), across the street from the main entrance to the United Nations.

Also, the Global Indigenous Women's Caucus meeting will take place on Friday 17 May 2013 from 9am to 5pm. The meeting will take place on the 2nd floor of the Church Centre for the United Nations at 777 UN Plaza (corner of East 44th Street and 1st Avenue), across the street from the main entrance to the United Nations.

The Indigenous Youth Caucus Preparatory Meeting for the twelfth Session will take place on Sunday, May 19, 2013, 9am to 6pm at 1 East 42nd Street, 2th Floor, New York, NY 10017

A meeting with Indigenous Journalists to strategize on the World Conference on Indigenous peoples (2014) will take place on Wednesday 22 May between 10am – 11am in Conference Room C. For further information contact Nilla Bernardi on Wednesday 22 May between 10am – 11am in Conference Room C. For further information contact Nilla Bernardi on

One important note – all registrations for new Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations and Academics are now closed. Please be advised you must be pre-registered in order to attend the Forum. You must also bring your confirmation letter and a photo ID such as a passport or driver’s licence to the Registration desk.

Registration times will be:
Sunday 19 May 12:00 -17:00
Monday 20 May 08:30 -12:30 & 14.00 -15.45
Tuesday 21 May 09.00 - 12.30 & 14.00 – 15.45
Wednesday 22 May to Friday 31 May (remainder of the Session) 09:30 - 12:30 & 14.00 – 15.45

The Registration Desk will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 14:00 p.m. Participants attending only side-events should register in the morning before those events take place.

Warm regards,
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Secretariat: Chandra, Anna, Arturo, Bertha, Broddi, Daniel,Joshua, Luz, Martin, Mirian, Nilla, Olga, Samantha, Sonia, Upatissa

Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2014-2016

On 6 May the President of Economic and Social Council announced the appointment of eight Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the term 2014-2016 who had been nominated by indigenous peoples’ organizations. Previously, on 25 April, the Council had elected seven members nominated by governments. One member remains to be elected by the Council from the Asia Pacific region. Their term begins on 1 January 2014 and lasts until 31 December 2016. 

Indigenous nominated and appointed by President of ECOSOC (8): 
Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine (Africa) 
Kara-Kys Arakchaa ( Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia)
 Joan Carling (Asia) 
Maria Eugenia Choque Quispe ( Central, South America and the Caribbean) 
Dalee Sambo Dorough (Arctic) 
Edward John (North America) 
 Raja Devasish Roy (Asia) 
Valmaine Toki (Pacific) 

Government nominated and elected by ECOSOC (7): 
Megan Davis (Australia) Oliver Loode (Estonia) 
Aisa Mukabenova (Russian Federation) 
Joseph Goko Mutangah (Kenya) 
Gervais Nzoa (Cameroon) 
Mohammad Hassani Nejad Pirkouhi (Iran) 
Alvaro Esteban Pop Ac (Guatemala)

Discussion: Indigenous Peoples & Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Dear colleague,

Indigenous people were absent from the Millennium Declaration and have remained so throughout the Millennium Development Goals processes: according to the UN System Task Team report on the post-2015 agenda, the MDGs have not reached the poorest and most marginalized people. To ensure that inequalities are addressed in the post-2015 agenda, the Global Thematic Consultation on Addressing Inequalities (co-led by UNICEF and UN Women) is holding a series of online, moderated discussions to gather views from a broad range of stakeholders on what the post-2015 development agenda should look like.  In this context, we would like to invite you to join an online discussion on inequalities and indigenous peoples, co-moderated by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII) and experts from Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations.

The discussion is taking place from 27 November to 14 December. To participate, please post your response in the discussion forum at www.worldwewant2015.org/node/284745. You are invited to register to the consultation here. The site is available in English, French and Spanish. You are invited to post your comments in any of the sixty languages supported by Google Translate.  If you are unable to access the site, please email your response to: inequalities@worldwewant2015.org.  

The discussion is co-moderated by Myrna Cunningham Kain, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Nilla Bernardi, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII). They will be joined by experts from Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations beginning with:

Roberto Borrero, Chair, NGO Committee on the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Jennifer Koinante, Director, SIIWA, Kenya

To kick off the global conversation, we invite you to reflect on the following questions, among others:

1. What are the most important forms of inequalities faced by indigenous peoples? - including discussion of where and among whom these challenges occur, their severity, the evidence about them, etc.

 2. What are the major structural factors at the root of these inequalities, within and among different societies?
 3. What kinds of policies, strategies or interventions have been most successful in addressing the various inequalities experienced by indigenous peoples? And under which conditions/in which situations have particular policies, strategies or interventions had the greatest, lasting impact? (Contributors may wish to cite examples or give references to these “successes”).
 4. Based on experience, what are the most important recommendations that could be proposed in the Post-2015 Development Agenda for making a lasting and transformative impact on the different forms of inequalities faced by indigenous peoples?
 5. What actions and initiatives could be taken by different stakeholders, including civil society and indigenous peoples organizations, to bring about lasting improvements in these inequalities? And how should those who face inequalities themselves be enabled to participate in the implementation phase of the new Development Framework?
The recommendations emerging from your contributions will be incorporated into a report on ‘Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda’, to be presented at a high-level meeting in February 2013 in Copenhagen. The report will also be transmitted to the High-level Panel on Post-2015, appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

The consultation aims to be as broad and open as possible, in order to enable a multitude of voices to be heard from academia, media, indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, private sector, governments and the UN System.  We look forward to hearing from you on how to realize the Future We Want for All.

Warm regards,
Myrna Cunningham Kain, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Nilla Bernardi, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII)Contact: inequalities@worldwewant2015.org
Discussion website: www.worldwewant2015.org/node/284745

Registration Process - Eleventh Session of the UNPFII

Dear Friends,

Please find enclosed the Arrangements for Participation for your information.

United Nations grounds pass
A blue laminated plastic badge that has a photo of the bearer on it. By itself, it does not give access to the North Lawn Building. It must be used with a secondary access pass.

Secondary access pass
A laminated coloured cardboard non-photo pass that is only valid when it is accompanied by a valid United Nations grounds pass. During the Eleventh Session, they will be issued at the time of registration to give access to the North Lawn Building. This pass can be used for the duration of the session.

During on-site registration, one secondary access pass will be given to each organization to be shared amongst its delegates. These passes will be given out, as long as supplies last, at a table marked “secondary access passes” in the lobby of the General Assembly Building.

Only ONE secondary access pass will be given per organization for the duration of the session. Please take special care not to lose your secondary access pass.

Special event tag (SET)
This is for access to side events in the North Lawn Building.  A coloured cardboard ticket with the date, time and location of the room of the side event (usually held during lunchtime and the evening) will be distributed.  The SETs will be distributed each morning at the SPFII table in the Visitors' Lobby starting at approximately 9:00 AM for that day's events by the event organizers.

Registration Hours
We will be open for on-site registration on Sunday 6 May. In order to Register, you must have already pre-registered online and be approved.

Registration will take place in the Lobby at the UN Visitors' Entrance (General Assembly Building). Entrance is at First Avenue and 45th Street. Once you pass through the white security tent please proceed to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues registration desk.  There will be 3 separate lines/queues depending upon your status:

1) NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC--You will be able to use your existing UN grounds pass but will be required to obtain the secondary access pass to gain access to the conference room.
2) New IPOs and Academics--Upon registration you will sign/make corrections to your grounds pass form that you filled out online and take it to the security desk to get your grounds pass printed.
3) 2011 Participating IPOs and Academics--If you attended last year's session, your grounds pass will be waiting for you in this line when you register.

Immediately after registering your designated representative will proceed to the line/queue for to receive the SECONDARY PASS that is to be shared among all members of your organization.  This pass will be valid for the entire duration of the session and if lost or forgotten it cannot be replaced.

Registration times are as follows:
 
Sunday 6 May          12.00p.m. to 5:00p.m.
Monday 7 May          8.00 a.m. to 3:45p.m.
Tuesday 8 May          9.00a.m. to 3:45p.m.
Wednesday 9 May to 18 May        9:30a.m. to 3:45p.m.
Closed every day from 12.30 to 2:00 p.m.

The Registration Desk will be closed every day from 12:30 to 2:00p.m. for lunch-break. Accordingly, no ground-pass will be issued during the lunch-break. Exceptionally, registration may be conducted during lunch-break if a large number of people are still in line.

Make sure to bring the confirmation letter that you receive after pre-registering as well as a photo identification document to get a UN ground-pass. It should be noted that for security reasons, only official documents (passports, state-issued driver’s license and similar documents), are accepted. No other documents will be accepted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at ngo@un.org or indigenous_un@un.org.
 
Thank you very much for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII)
Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session-eleventh.html

International expert group meeting on combating violence against indigenous women and girls: article 22 of the United Nations Declaration on the Right

UN Headquarters, New York
18-20 January 2012

Venue: Conference Room 5--North Lawn Building

The meeting is attended by international indigenous experts whose findings are submitted to the eleventh session of the Permanent Forum in May 2012.

CONTACT:
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Ms. Talei Cama
2 UN Plaza
Room DC2-1451B
New York, New York 10017

This Expert Group Meeting is being organized following a recommendation of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), approved by ECOSOC decision 2011/266, which authorized a three-day international expert group meeting on the theme "Combating violence against indigenous women and girls: article 22 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" and requested that the results of the meeting be reported to the Permanent Forum at its eleventh session, to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-sixth session in 2012. The meeting will discuss the way in which the UNPFII should address its mandate under Article 22 of the Declaration.

The EGM will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 18 to 20 January 2012 in conference room 5 in the North Lawn Building and will be held between 10 am – 1 pm and 3 pm – 6 pm each day. It will be attended by indigenous experts and UNPFII members as well as interested Member States, UN Agencies and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. Due to the limited capacity of the room, invitations will be given out to indigenous peoples’ organizations on a first come, first serve basis. Please note that there is no SPFII funding available for this meeting. All observers are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and related arrangements.

For those confirmed participants requiring UN ground passes, when arriving at the United Nations, please enter the main Secretariat Building, located at 46th street and First Avenue through the visitor’s entrance. Please carry with you a valid government-issued photo ID document and the invitation letter to the meeting. Once you pass Security please look for the sign “Indigenous Issues”. Staff from the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will be there to assist you and deliver your UN pass to you on the mornings of Wednesday, 18 January and Thursday, 19 January from 9 am to 11 am. Please note, that in order to pick up your badge, you must arrive at the UN during this time period, as staff will not be there to assist you after these hours.

Documents

Submitted by the Secretariat of UNPFII:

Programme of Work (EN)

Concept Paper for Combatting Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls :Article 22 UNDRIP(EN)

*Submitted by Experts:

Paper submitted by Prof. Rauna Kuokkanen (EN)

Paper submitted by Ms Terri Henry (EN)

Paper submitted by Ms Mary Simat (EN)

Paper submitted by Ms Sangeeta Lama (EN)

Paper submitted by Ms Guadalupe Martinez Perez (ES)

Paper submitted by Ms Edwina Kotoisuva (EN)

*Submitted by UN Agencies and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations:

Paper submitted by Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) (EN)

Paper submitted by MDG Achievement Fund, UNFPA and International Indigenous Women's Forum (FIMI)--Joint Project (ES)

Paper submitted by Ms Andrea Carmen and Ms Viola Waghiyi (EN)

* The views and opinions expressed in these papers are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent official policy or positions of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

New Logistical Information for the PFII

** Attention - New Logistical Information for the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues**

From Monday 19th - Wednesday 21, and on Friday 23rd April, the UNPFII will be held in the General Assembly Hall.

Side Events:
Special Passes will be required for those Side Events taking place in any of the following Conference Rooms: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8,A, B, E.

· Most of the Special passes will be provided to event organizers for them to distribute.

· The remaining passes will be available from Secretariat staff members who will be in the General Assembly Lobby of the UN Headquarters building, from 12.30pm - 1.30pm each day.

· For side events taking place on 21 April, Wednesday morning in the NLB, Secretariat staff will distribute the remaining passes from 9:30 to 10am at the General Assembly Lobby.

· No special passes are required for side events taking place in the DC1, DC2, UNICEF or FF buildings.


On Thursday 22 April, the UNPFII will be held in Conference Room 1 in the newly constructed temporary building, located on the North Lawn Building (NLB) located on the North Lawn of the United Nations grounds.The capacity of the meeting room is much smaller than the General Asembly Hall so there will be a limit to the numbers of people allowed into the NLB building (590 people). Therefore, the following arrangements will be put in place:

For the UNPFII session on Thursday morning
· 15 passes with will be provided to each of the caucauses: Global, Women, Youth and Regional x 7.
· One pass will be given to each organization by Secretariat staff in the General Assembly Lobby.
· Any left over passes will be given on first come –first serve basis, also in the General Assembly Lobby.

*In the spirit of good faith, if your organization received a pass through the caucaus, it would be appreciated if you do not accept additional organization passes.

For the UNPFII session on Thursday afternoon
· 15 passes with will be provided to each of the caucuses: Global, Women, Youth and Regional x 7.

· One pass will be given to each organization, with priority to North American organizations by Secretariat staff in the General Assembly Lobby.

· Any left over passes will be given on first come –first serve basis, also in the General Assembly Lobby.

*In the spirit of good faith, if your organization received a pass through the caucaus, it would be appreciated if you do not accept additional organization passes.

9th Session of the UNPFII

Public Notice: Pre-registration for the ninth session of the UNPFII will be closed on March 30th, 2010. Given the challenges posed by the new conference facilities at the UN headquarters, please check this website for updates: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_ninth.html

Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

19-30 April 2010
UN Headquarters, New York

Special Theme: Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity; articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Provisional Agenda

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work.

3. Discussion on the special theme for the year, “Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity: articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”.

4. Human rights:
(a) Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
(b) Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and other special rapporteurs.

5. Half-day discussion on North America.

6. Comprehensive dialogue with six United Nations agencies and funds.

7. Future work of the Permanent Forum, including issues of the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues.

8. Draft agenda for the tenth session of the Permanent Forum.

9. Adoption of the report of the Permanent Forum on its ninth session.

Pre-registration

** Attention - New Logistical Information about the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues**

Due to extensive renovations to United Nations hedaquarters , the ninth session of the UNPFII will take place in a newly constructed temporary building, located on the north lawn of the United Nations grounds in New York at 1st Avenue and 46th street. The capacity of the meeting rooms in the temporary space is smaller than that of the conference building where previous session have been held. For this reason, it is possible that not all observers to the session, including indigenous peoples organizations and NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, will be permitted inside the building at the same time. The Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is currently seeking arrangements that will minimize any inconvenience to UNPFII participants. Further information will be made available on this website as it becomes available.

Registration for indigenous peoples' organizations, NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status and academic institutions wishing to attend the 9th Session of the UNPFII as observers is now open. Please click on the appropriate link below to be taken to the online registration page

Indigenous peoples organizations attending for the first time

Academic institutions attending for the first time

-Indigenous peoples' organizations and academic institutions that have previously attended UNPFII sessions, and NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC
You must sign in to the online system using your assigned username and password (use the "Click here to Sign In" in the upper right corner once you reach the website) then click on the link "Invitations" that appears on the left side menu bar. You will then see the link to the forum event where you can pre-register, designate your representatives and download your letter of invitation. In case you cannot use the online pre-registration system for any technical reason, please get in touch with us.

For any additional questions on the registration process, please contact Talei Cama (cama@un.org).

Information for National Human Rights Institutions wishing to attend the 9th Session of the UNPFII as observers.

Registration for Side Events

Please click here to register. Please note that due to the renovation of UN Headquarters, there is limited space for side events this year. For this reason side event organizers are strongly advised to submit joint proposals for side events.

Practical Information for Participants

Frequently asked questions on NGO participation:
[Accreditation and Pre-registration]
[Participation]
[Submission of written statements]

Handbook for Participants at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The handbook is available in English, Spanish, French and Russian.

Logistical information (accommodation, transportation and other useful information) -please note that some of this information may become outdated.

DOCUMENTS

Submitted by the Secretariat of UNPFII

From the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations

From Governments

Submitted by NGOs

Call for nominations of UNPFII members

Dear Representatives of Indigenous Peoples,


The Department of Economic and Social Affairs has the honour to draw your attention to Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000 entitled “Establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues”.

According to paragraph 1 of that resolution, the Economic and Social Council:

“Decides to establish as a subsidiary organ of the Council a permanent forum on indigenous issues consisting of sixteen members, eight to be nominated by Governments and elected by the Council, and eight members to be appointed by the President of the Council following formal consultations with the bureau and regional groups through the coordinators, on a basis of broad consultations with indigenous organizations taking into account the diversity and geographic distribution of indigenous peoples of the world, as well as principles of transparency, representativity, and equal opportunity for all indigenous people, including internal processes, when appropriate, and local indigenous consultation processes. The members of the Forum will serve in their personal capacity as independent experts on indigenous issues for a period of three years with the possibility of re-election or re-appointment for one further period.”

The Permanent Forum serves as an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues relating to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. The Permanent Forum holds annual sessions of ten working days each May.

The current membership of the Permanent Forum is due to expire at the end of 2010. Nominations are now requested for the three-year period from January 2011 until December 2013. Current members who have served the maximum of two terms (6 years) as Permanent Forums members cannot be nominated for a further term.

It has been the understanding of the indigenous caucus that the eight (8) indigenous nominated members should be from the seven socio-cultural regions determined to give broad representation to the world’s indigenous peoples. The regions are: Africa; Asia; Central and South America and the Caribbean; the Arctic; Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia; North America; and the Pacific.

It was also the understanding that the 8th member would be nominated from one of the three largest indigenous populated regions (Latin America, Asia and Africa) which would be rotated every three years. Latin America will have an extra member for the next term (2011 – 2013).

I am encouraging consultations amongst indigenous organizations to commence as soon as possible to ensure that the President of the Economic and Social Council has suitable candidates for consideration and appointment.

In considering possible candidates you are encouraged to take into account the principles of geographic distribution, and gender balance. Furthermore and in order for nominations to be complete, it is important to provide recent curriculum vitae of the nominees for consideration by the President of the Economic and Social Council. Information about the nominatingorganization(s) should also be submitted.

All correspondence should be sent to the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Room DC2-1454, New York, NY 10017, United States of America OR email to: indigenous_un@un.org


The deadline for submission of nominations is 1 February 2010

___________________________________________________________________________



Estimados Representantes de los Pueblos Indígenas,

El Departamento de Asuntos Económicos y Sociales de las Naciones Unidas tiene el honor de referirles a la resolución 2000/22 del Consejo Económico y Social del 28 de julio de 2000 titulada “Establecimiento de un Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas.”

De acuerdo con el párrafo 1 de esa resolución, el Consejo Económico y Social:

“Decide establecer, como órgano subsidiario del Consejo Económico y Social, un foro permanente para las cuestiones indígenas integrado por 16 miembros, ocho de los cuales han de ser propuestos por los gobiernos y elegidos por el Consejo y los otros han de ser nombrados por el Presidente del Consejo, previa consulta oficial con la Mesa y con los grupos regionales porintermedio de sus coordinadores, sobre la base de consultas amplias con las organizaciones indígenas, teniendo en cuenta la diversidad y la distribución geográfica de las poblaciones indígenas del mundo, así como los principios de transparencia, representabilidad e igualdad de oportunidades para todos los pueblos indígenas, incluidos los procedimientos internos, cuando corresponda, y los procesos de consulta de las poblaciones indígenas locales; todos los miembros actuarán a título personal como expertos independientes en las cuestiones indígenas durante un periodo de tres años con la posibilidad de reelección o nuevo nombramiento por un nuevo periodo;”

El Foro Permanente sirve como un órgano asesor al Consejo Económico y Social con el mandato de discutir las cuestiones indígenas relacionadas al desarrollo económico y social, cultura, medio ambiente, educación, salud y derechos humanos. El Foro Permanente realiza sesiones cada año por diez días en Mayo.

La membresía actual del Foro Permanente vence a finales de 2010 y actualmente se están solicitando las nominaciones para el período de tres años de enero de 2011 a diciembre de 2013. Los actuales miembros que han servido por un máximo de 2 mandatos (6 años) no pueden volver a ser nominados por otro término.

El cónclave indígena ha comprendido que los ocho (8) miembros nominados por lasorganizaciones indígenas deben corresponder a las siete regiones socio-culturales determinadas para dar amplia representación a los pueblos indígenas del mundo. Las regiones son: África; Asia; Centro y Sudamérica y el Caribe; el Ártico, Europa del Este, Federación Rusa, Asia Central y Transcaucasia, América del Norte y el Pacífico

También se ha comprendido que el 8vo miembro sería nominado de una de las tres regiones más grandes con población indígena (América latina, Asia y África) rotada cada tres años. América latina tendrá un miembro adicional para el término siguiente (2011 - 2013).

Quisiera alentar la realización lo más pronto posible de consultas entre las organizaciones indígenas para asegurar que el Presidente del Consejo Económico y Social cuente con candidatos apropiados para ser considerados y nombrados.

Cuando estén considerando los candidatos posibles, se les recomienda tomar en cuenta los principios de distribución geográfica y equidad de género. Además, para que las nominaciones sean completas, es importante proporcionar un currículum vitae actualizado de los nominados para la consideración del Presidente del Consejo Económico y Social. También se debe presentar información sobre la(s) organización(es) nominadora(s).

Toda la correspondencia debe ser enviada a: la Secretaría del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de las Naciones Unidas, Departamento de Asuntos Económicos y Sociales (DESA), DC2-1454, New York, NY 10017, EEUU O email a: idigenous_un@un.org

La fecha límite para el envío de nominaciones es el 1º de Febrero de 2010.

International expert group meeting on the role of the UNPFII in the implementation of article 42 of the UN Indigenous Rights Delaration

International expert group meeting on the role of the UNPFII in the implementation of article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

United Nations Headquarters
14-16 January 2009

This Expert Group Meeting is being organized following a recommendation of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, approved by ECOSOC decision 2008/249, which authorized a three-day international expert group meeting on the implementation of Article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and requested that the results of the meeting be reported to the Permanent Forum at its eighth session. The workshop will discuss the way in which the UNPFII should address its mandate under Article 42 of the Declaration.

The EGM will be attended by indigenous experts and UNPFII members as well as interested Member States, UN Agencies and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. Interested parties should contact the Secretariat about participating in the EGM as observers. Please note that space in the conference room is limited and the Secretariat may not be able to accommodate all requests for participation.

Meeting documents are available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/EGM_A42.html

Contact:

Carol Pollack
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development - Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

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Reunión internacional de expertos sobre la implementación del Artículo 42 de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas

Sede de las Naciones Unidas
10 Noviembre 2008

Esta reunión internacional de expertos se está organizando siguiendo una recomendación del Foro Permanente de la ONU para las Cuestiones Indígenas, aprobada por la decisión 2008/249 del ECOSOC, la cual autoriza una reunión de tres días de un grupo internacional de expertos sobre la aplicación del artículo 42 de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y pide que se informe al Foro de los resultados de la reunión en su octavo período de sesiones. La reunión analizará la manera en que el UNPFII debe abordar su mandato bajo el Artículo 42 de la Declaración.

En la reunión participarán expertos indígenas y miembros del UNPFII, así como también los Estados Miembros interesados, agencias de Naciones Unidas y organizaciones de pueblos indígenas. Los interesados deben contactar a la Secretaría para asistir a la reunión en calidad de observadores. Se les informa que el espacio en la sala de conferencias es limitado, y por lo tanto es posible que la Secretaría no pueda acomodar todos los pedidos de participación.

Los documentos de la reunión están disponibles en la pagina web del Foro Permanente: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/EGM_A42.html

Contact:

Carol Pollack
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development - Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

Report of the Seventh Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

An advance unedited version of the report of the seventh session is available in English. Although the report is not a final official document, it does contain all of the amendments made by the rapporteur during the adoption of the report on Friday 2 May 2008. Thus, the report contains additional paragraphs and changes that were made since the L documents were issued. The advance unedited version will only be available in English. Other language versions will be ready when the official report is published.

Click here to download the report (pdf only) at
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/UNPFII_7session_report_advance.pdf

International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Languages

International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Languages
8-10 January 2008

This Expert Group Meeting is being organized in accordance with ECOSOC decision 2007/244, which authorized a three-day international expert group meeting on indigenous languages and requested that the results of the meeting be reported to the Permanent Forum at its seventh session.

In addition, the Permanent Forum stated the following in its report:

"Considering that 2008 is the International Year of Languages, the Permanent Forum recommends holding an expert group meeting on indigenous languages that will call upon States, the United Nations system and indigenous peoples and their organizations to consider the following elements:

(a) Working towards concrete actions and legislative development aimed at eliminating discrimination against the current use of indigenous languages;

(b) Developing programmes aimed at promoting the empowerment of indigenous languages through all mediums, including radio and television;

(c) Supporting and increasing the number of centres for the study of indigenous languages;

(d) Financing and supporting schemes for special projects that are formulated by indigenous peoples and are focused on revitalization and rescue of threatened languages;

(e) Designing, in consultation with indigenous peoples and the Permanent Forum, the organization of a world conference on linguistic diversity, indigenous languages, identity and education, as a contribution to the programme of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People."The Agenda of the Meeting will be based on the above mentioned recommendation of the forum.

The EGM will be attended by indigenous experts, UNPFII members as well as interested Member States, UN Agencies, Indigenous Peoples' Organizatinos, AND Non-Governmental Organizations. Interested parties should contact the Secretariat about participating in the EGM as observers. Please note that space in the conference room is limited and the Secretariat may not be able to accommodate all requests for participation.

Documents
Background Paper
Draft Agenda

Historic Milestone for Indigenous Peoples Worldwide as UN Adopts Rights Declaration

New York, 13 September - Marking an historic achievement for the more than 370 million indigenous peoples worldwide, the General Assembly today adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the result of more than two decades of consultation and dialogue among governments and indigenous peoples from all regions.

"Today, by adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples we are making further progress to improve the situation of indigenous peoples around the world," stated General Assembly President Haya Al Khalifa.

"We are also taking another major step forward towards the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly welcomed the adoption, calling it "a triumph for indigenous peoples around the world."

He further noted that "this marks a historic moment when UN Member States and indigenous peoples reconciled with their painful histories and resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and development for all."

Adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2006, the Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations. It establishes an important standard for eliminating human rights violations against indigenous peoples worldwide and for combating discrimination and marginalization.

"The 13th of September 2007 will be remembered as an international human rights day for the Indigenous Peoples of the world, a day that the United Nations and its Member States, together with Indigenous Peoples, reconciled with past painful histories and decided to march into the future on the path of human rights," said Ms. Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The Declaration addresses both individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language and others. The Declaration explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative relations between States and Indigenous Peoples. It prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them.

Calling the Declaration "tangible proof of the increasing cooperation of States, Indigenous Peoples and the international community as a whole for the promotion and protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples", Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Sha Zukang said that the UN "has fulfilled its role as the world's parliament and has responded to the trust that Indigenous Peoples around the world placed in it, that it will stand for dignity and justice, development and peace for all, without discrimination."

The Declaration was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the General Assembly, with 143 countries voting in support, 4 voting against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstaining (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa, Ukraine).

To view a webcast of the General Assembly session, see:
www.un.org/webcast/ga.html

For more information on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please see:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html

For media enquiries, please contact: Renata Sivacolundhu,
Department of Public Information, tel: 212.963.2932, e-mail:
sivacolundhu@un.org

For Secretariat of the Permanent Forum,
please contact: Mirian Masaquiza,,
tel: 917.367.6006,
e-mail: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org

Taino and Other Caribbean Indigenous Peoples Engage the United Nations System

United Nations (UCTP Taino News) - Amid the diverse delegations of Indigenous Peoples highlighting the complex issues associated with “land, territories, and natural resources” at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Caribbean Indigenous Peoples were actively presenting sound advice to Governments and intergovernmental organizations about how to meet their needs for survival. Working together in the form of the Indigenous Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC), indigenous representatives from throughout the region presented their collective views on such topics as urban Indigenous Peoples and migration, the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, and future work of the Forum.

Read the full story at:
http://uctp.blogspot.com/2007/06/taino-and-other-caribbean-indigenous.html

IPCGC: 2005 - AGENDA ITEM 5 – FUTURE WORK OF THE PERMANENT FORUM

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CAUCUS OF THE GREATER CARIBBEAN (IPCGC)

AGENDA ITEM 5 – FUTURE WORK OF THE PERMANENT FORUM

Madam Chair, we welcome the Second Decade and we extend thanks the UN General Assembly for proclaiming the Second Decade.

We encourage the Permanent Forum to focus on the recommendations previously made from the 1st to the 4th Sessions. The Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean makes the following recommendations:

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. We call on the Permanent Forum to request ECOSOC to recommend the expansion of the membership of the Permanent Forum to include a direct Caribbean presence in the Forum.

2. That some of the Expert Members of the Permanent Forum visit the Caribbean region, including CARICOM, to have a first hand knowledge on the situation of the Indigenous Peoples.

3. To urge the UN Agencies, Programmes, Funds, and other donors to allocate funding for meetings in the Caribbean relating to Indigenous Issues including the proposed meetings that the Expert members will be participating in.

4. We urge the Permanent Forum to ensure the effective participation of Caribbean Indigenous Women to be reflected in the work of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. We also urge the Permanent Forum to request ECOSOC to urge the Governments to recognize and respect Indigenous Women's Groups and their recommendations particularly with regard to the MDGs and the Goals of the Second Decade.

5. To establish National and Regional Offices of the Permanent Forum in the Caribbean and to request the UN to provide adequate funding for these offices.


SECOND DECADE

1. We call on the Permanent Forum to urge ECOSOC to recommend that governments in the Caribbean Region establish National Committees to deal with the activities of the Second Decade. The establishment of the Committees must include the effective and full participation of the Indigenous Peoples including Indigenous Peoples Organisations. The Committees must participate in the evaluation of the second decade in achieving its goals.

2. We call on the Permanent Forum to assist in securing adequate funding for the region for th implementation of the Programme of Activities and the Plan of Action of the Second Decade for the Indigenous Peoples of the Greater Caribbean.

3. Implementation of MDGs should be monitored by developing an defectively using human rights impact assessment methods which are sensitive to the realities of indigenous peoples

4. To call on governments to support an encourage the building of alliances among Indigenous peoples including those separated by borders to revitalize an strengthen their culture

5. We support the call for the preservation of Sacred species be one of the goals of the Second decade.

Thank you madam Chair.