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Peacebuilding Affairs and indigenous peoples, including women and young people,
consider indigenous peoples’ traditional conflict resolution systems for achieving
durable and lasting peace.
Arctic
103. The Permanent Forum takes notes of the issues reported by indigenous peoples
from the Arctic region, including, among others, the lack of truly autonomous
indigenous governing bodies, the development of large-scale projects without free,
prior and informed consent, and other threats to their traditional livelihoods.
104. The Permanent Forum is concerned that, in their efforts to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals, Member States are not complying with the
Declaration. In one case, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
requested that Norway temporarily suspend the ongoing construction of the Fosen
Vind onshore wind power project, which negatively affects the reindeer herding of
the South Sami people. The Government of Norway, having concluded that its
administrative and legal processes were sufficient, did not implement the interim
measures. The Forum urges Member States to respect and comply with decisions
made by the United Nations treaty bodies.
105. The Permanent Forum is also concerned with the confiscation of the lands and
territories of Arctic nomads, pastoralists and hunter-gatherers. One case reported to
the Forum is the transfer of reindeer pastures to a hunting club without the free, prior
and informed consent of the Sami people.
106. The Permanent Forum invites States to support the strengthening of local and
regional indigenous peoples’ institutions on the management of lands, water and
resources, as recommended in the Pikialasorsuaq project of the Inuit Circumpolar
Council and the Deatnu (Tana) salmon management project on cross-border
cooperation.
Asia
107. The dialogue focused on traditional knowledge, land conflicts and the impact of
large-scale development and economic projects on indigenous peoples.
108. The Permanent Forum acknowledges that the widespread use of dominant
languages often results in prejudicial treatment and disadvantages for indigenous
peoples speaking their languages, in particular in areas of education and access to
services.
109. The Permanent Forum thanks countries in Asia that have already incorporated
indigenous languages into primary education and urges Member States and the United
Nations system to provide funding to implement policies related to indigenous
languages and ensure the incorporation of indigenous languages into the curricula at
all education levels.
110. The Permanent Forum recognizes that land conflict is a controversial issue and
encourages Member States and indigenous peoples to continue dialogue to find
common solutions.
111. The Permanent Forum expresses concern about large-scale industrial investment
in indigenous peoples’ territories. Measures should be taken by investors and
multinational corporations to genuinely follow the principles of free, prior and
informed consent for all projects that have an impact on indigenous peoples, taking
into consideration their interests and development priorities.
112. The Permanent Forum expresses appreciation for the initiatives taken by the
International Fund for Agricultural Development to bring together indigenous
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