E/2016/43
E/C.19/2016/11
UNESCO, in addition to the International Seabed Authority, comply with and
implement the relevant articles of the United Nations Declaration (arts. 18, 27 and
32), so as to ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples. This
should include meaningful participation, such as dedicated indigenous
representation within each of these United Nations entities, and regard for
indigenous peoples’ world views.
15. In reference to the study by Mr. John and Ms. Dorough on how States exploit
weak procedural rules in international organizations to devalue the United Nations
Declaration and other international human rights law, the Permanent Forum
recommends that all funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United
Nations system and other intergovernmental forums begin to reform their respective
procedural rules, with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples,
with the aim of ensuring compliance and consistency with the human rights
affirmed in the Declaration.
16. Recalling the study on decolonization of the Pacific region (see
E/C.19/2013/12), the Permanent Forum invites the relevant States to provide
information on the status of the situation of the indigenous peoples concerned to the
Permanent Forum at its sixteenth session.
Implementation of the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum with
reference to the United Nations Declaration
17. This session attracted a number of speakers representing Governments,
intergovernmental organizations and indigenous peoples. High -level speakers
included government ministers, the Vice-President of Guyana and the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the President of the Sami
Parliament in Norway and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of
Canada. A large number of speakers reported on the need to repeal oppressive laws
and practices that encroached upon the rights of indigenous peoples. The debates
also included the need to improve the rights of indigenous peoples in the areas of
health, education, human rights, economic and social development, environment and
culture.
Human rights
18. The Permanent Forum welcomes the endorsement by Canada of the United
Nations Declaration, without qualification. The Forum looks forward to its
immediate implementation, with the full and effective participation of indigenous
peoples, as a critical step in the reconciliation process between indigenous peoples
and the State.
19. The Permanent Forum expresses its appreciation to the Government of
Guatemala and organizations of indigenous peoples, especially the Organismo
Naleb', for the support provided to hold the preparatory meeting for the fifteenth
session of the Forum in Guatemala from 10 to 16 April 2016. The Forum
appreciates the country’s openness and dialogue with indigenous peoples’
organizations, women’s and youth organizations, the private sector, media and the
United Nations country team, as well as the dialogue among the legislative,
executive and judicial branches of the Government. The Forum calls upon States to
propose and host the preliminary sessions of the Forum in the future.
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