E/2003/43
E/C.19/2003/22
12. The Forum welcomes the inclusion in the 2003 Ibero-American Summit of a
focus on indigenous children, and recommends that UNICEF report to the Forum on
the results of the Summit in that area, and to indicate how lessons can be learned
and policy approaches improved concerning indigenous children in other parts of the
world with indigenous peoples, specifically Asia and Africa.
13. The Forum urges UNICEF to develop its policy on and guidelines regarding
indigenous peoples in time for the third session of the Forum.
14. The Forum recommends that UNICEF consider the appointment of a goodwill
ambassador of indigenous children and youth to raise public awareness and that it
urge all UNICEF ambassadors to pay attention to the specific problems of
indigenous children and youth.
15. Aware of the massive exodus of indigenous youth to the alien environments of
cities around the world and the discrimination, socio-economic hardships, weakened
family networks and drug abuse, inter alia, affecting those youngsters and “street
children”, the Forum requests the World Bank, the ILO and UNICEF to conduct an
in-depth comparative study of legal frameworks and social programmes addressing
indigenous urban youth in selected countries. The study should assess key problems
and best practices and should provide recommendations for the formulation of
policies and strategies for future action.
16. The Forum recommends that the United Nations system, in particular UNICEF
and WHO, in collaboration with Governments and in consultation with indigenous
peoples’ organizations, and with the participation and input from the Committee on
the Rights of the Child and the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography, address issues related to the trafficking and
sexual exploitation of indigenous girls, and urges States to create programmes of
rehabilitation.
17. The Forum invites the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography, within the purview of his mandate, to pay
special attention to and make recommendations concerning the rights of indigenous
children.
18. In order to promote further knowledge of the Forum and the role of the United
Nations among indigenous children and youth, the Forum decides to organize an
indigenous youth art competition for the design of a logo for the Forum and to
present the results to the Forum at its fourth session, in 2005, with the highest
participation of indigenous children, including illiterate children.
19. The Forum, taking into account the large number of incarcerated indigenous
children and youth and the need to assist them in reintegrating into society as soon
as possible through socio-educational measures, recommends that the Economic and
Social Council urge Governments to ensure greater protection and humane treatment
of those children and youth while in prison and youth detention centres, and to
provide them with socio-educational measures for their rehabilitation.
20. The Forum, taking into account that indigenous children, youth and women are
more vulnerable and are often physically and psychologically mistreated, and that
children represent the future of indigenous peoples, recommends that the Council
support the declaration of an international day or an international year of the
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