E/2019/43
E/C.19/2019/10
27. The mandate of the Permanent Forum is to advise the Economic and Social
Council on indigenous peoples’ issues related to economic and social development,
culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. In addition, the Forum
is tasked with promoting respect for and the full application of the provisions of the
Declaration and following up on their effective implementation.
Economic and social development
28. Building on the recommendation contained in paragraph 16 of its report on its
sixteenth session (E/2017/43-E/C.19/2017/11), the Permanent Forum strongly
encourages United Nations resident coordinators and country teams to ensure the full
and effective participation of indigenous peoples, including indigenous women and
young people, in the preparation of the United Nations Development Assistance
Framework and country programme action plans.
29. The Permanent Forum urges Member States to provide financial support to the
trust fund on indigenous issues (fund 32FII) to support the work of the Forum in
implementing its mandate and to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous
Peoples to facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples in key United Na tions
meetings and processes. The Forum recommends that States, private foundations,
intergovernmental organizations and NGOs support the work of indigenous -led
funding initiatives.
30. In accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Declaration, the Permanen t Forum
urges States to develop legislation, policies and programmes supporting traditional
livelihoods with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples. In
particular, the Forum urges the Government of Finland to renew the Reindeer Herding
Act with the full and effective participation of the Sami people.
31. The Permanent Forum acknowledges the project of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), entitled “Linking indigenous
peoples with regional development”, which involves indigenous leaders and
communities in Australia, Canada and Sweden, and encourages OECD and its
member States to expand the project.
Culture
32. The Permanent Forum acknowledges the organization of the World Indigenous
Games, held in Brazil in 2015 and in Canada in 2017, which illustrated and
highlighted, among others, articles 31 and 43 of the Declaration. The Forum
welcomes the agreement by indigenous peoples from various regions to hold the third
World Indigenous Games, in 2020. It encourages Member States and United Nations
entities to support the preparations for the organization of the third World Indigenous
Games and other indigenous-led sport initiatives at all levels.
33. The Permanent Forum recalls the recommendation contained in paragraph 39 of
its report on its sixteenth session, in which States were encouraged to continue to
cooperate with indigenous peoples to develop fair, transparent and effective
mechanisms for the repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains at the
national and international levels.
34. The traditional food systems of indigenous peoples depend on a healthy
environment and access to traditional resources and play an important role in
maintaining the communities’ cultures and identities and their health and well-being.
The Permanent Forum encourages indigenous peoples, States, United Nations entities
and civil society organizations to raise awareness and promote the food cultures of
indigenous peoples through support for indigenous peoples’ food systems and
unconditional access to traditional resources.
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