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43. The Permanent Forum calls upon the Conference of the Parties and the
secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to ensure
that all reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation mechanism (REDD
and REDD+) programmes and projects go through a full review, with the full and
effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, to assess their validity. The parties to
the Convention should adopt a grievance mechanism that allows Indigenous Peoples
to identify and name non-State actors, corporations, United Nations entities, States
and other organizations involved in setting up REDD programmes and projects that
violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
44. The Permanent Forum again urges Member States to ensure that Indigenous
Peoples are afforded full and effective participation in all planning and policy
development to address climate change. Indigenous-led climate change policies
incorporate the vital knowledge of Indigenous Peoples for land management and
stewardship of natural resources while protecting health, equity, justice and
sustainability. Principles of free, prior and informed consent must be followed in the
development of all climate change policies and actions.
45. The Permanent Forum recognizes development of renewable energy sources but
remains alarmed that irresponsible development related to green technology and the
green transition, has led, at times, to violations of Indigenous Peoples’ rights,
including mineral extraction and the building of hydroelectric dams and other large scale infrastructure without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous
Peoples. The Permanent Forum recommends that Member States provide the
resources necessary to develop and implement Indigenous Peoples’ own free, prior
and informed consent protocols in such contexts.
46. The Permanent Forum is equally alarmed at the many testimonies from
Indigenous Peoples on the establishment of protected areas and conservation
measures without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and the
persistent violations of their human rights in the context of conservation. The
Permanent Forum underlines that it is the responsibility of Member States and other
actors to obtain free, prior and informed consent directly from Indigenous Peoples
when developing policies and legislation pertaining to conservation measures and
protected areas.
Human rights dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous
Peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (item 5 (d))
47. The Permanent Forum is saddened to learn from the Special Rapporteur on the
rights of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Calí Tzay, that threats to Indigenous Peoples ’
rights have not become less severe over the previous year. The main areas of concern
reported by the Special Rapporteur include the violation of the right to selfdetermination and self-government through a State practice of not recognizing the
existence of Indigenous Peoples; the escalation of conflicts and the continued
militarization of Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral lands; the development of
mega-projects in Indigenous territories, including conservation projects and green
economy projects, without their consent, leading to displacement, dispossession and
violence; and systematic discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.
48. The Permanent Forum looks forward to reading the reports of his official
country visits to Denmark and Greenland, in February 2023, and Canada, in March
2023. The Permanent Forum commends the Special Rapporteur for his activ ities in
relation to cases on Indigenous Peoples at the inter-American human rights system
through the presentation of amicus curiae briefs. The Permanent Forum welcomes
forthcoming reports of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly on tourism
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