E/2018/43 E/C.19/2018/11 Pacific 98. The loss of capacity to maintain subsistence livelihoods of island populations in the region leads to social stress and disadvantage, including substance abuse and domestic violence. The remote locations of many islands of the region can result in poor or limited access to health and education institutions, as well as transport and communications. 99. The Permanent Forum expresses concern at the high numbers of imprisoned indigenous people in the Pacific region, including in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, United States. 100. The Pacific is the region that is most vulnerable to climate change. Indigenous peoples can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and act as stewards of their traditional lands, yet they receive little attention from their Governments and the global community. While most small island developing States in the region support the United Nations Declaration on the Right s of Indigenous Peoples and are implementing Agenda 2030, progress in the Pacific is lagging far behind. Central and South America and the Caribbean 101. The main concerns expressed in this dialogue included the implementation gap between the progress made in institutional, legislative and policy frameworks within the region and the effective measures taken by the Governments ; the criminalization of protest and the persecution and killings of defenders of the collective rights of indigenous peoples; the lack of consultations to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, especially in the context of disputes over land rights, the expansion of extractive industries and agroindustry; and the alarming levels of violence against indigenous women, youth and children, including sexual abuse of indigenous children in educational contexts and increased femicide in the region. 102. The 2030 Agenda and the upcoming 2020 census round , as well as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, are opportunities to achieve progress on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These processes must guarantee the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples at all levels. The Permanent Forum recognizes the need to enhance the participation of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, including indigenous women and youth. North America 103. The Permanent Forum welcomes the constructive dialogue between the indigenous peoples and Member States in North America on border-crossing issues (honouring the Jay Treaty, the North American Free Trade Agreement and crossborder pipelines), the designation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages and the creation of space for indigenous youth to participate in the processes of the Forum. The Forum notes the recent second meeting of the North American Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls and encourages Canada, Mexico and the United States to develop a trilateral initiative on transboundary issues of concern to indigenous peoples. 104. Indigenous peoples expressed concern over the development projects and disrespect by corporations of indigenous lands, territories and resources in their development and implementation of extraction projects connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, including in the insular territories of indigenous peoples. 18-07701 19/26