A/HRC/39/68
beyond dictatorship regimes. Providing a variety of past examples, he argued that truth
commissions led by indigenous peoples should not only focus on the final written report but
also on the processes, and in particular the space given to oral witness, in order to ensure
that all processes were compatible with the needs of indigenous peoples.
56.
Participants noted good practices of States in building strong relations with
indigenous peoples. In some countries where processes of reconciliation were taking place,
it was considered important to observe and value the reconciliation processes as a whole,
not only the outcome documents. It was highlighted that reconciliation processes should
address both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Participants noted the importance of
developing strategies to engage with the entire population as a means of raising awareness
on local histories and making contexts and information more visible.
57.
Participants also underlined the need to improve and develop frameworks for
dialogue, possibly using protocols based on the Declaration. Furthermore, participants
stressed the need for a consensual understanding of the concepts used in reconciliation
processes, as indigenous and non-indigenous peoples could have different interpretations.
In that regard, participants mentioned the importance of access to justice and the
recognition of indigenous justice systems. Finally, panellists noted the importance of
following up on all the recommendations and procedures involved in reconciliation
processes.
VIII. Coordination meeting of United Nations indigenous rights
mechanisms
58.
Under item 5, the members of the Expert Mechanism held a private meeting with the
Chair of the Permanent Forum, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
and a representative of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Peoples. Participants considered the following issues: coordination of thematic
studies; a joint statement for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on
the theme of indigenous peoples’ migration and movement; coordination of activities
around the International Year of Indigenous Languages; coordination of country
engagement activities; and the broadening of the consultation process to enable the
participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant
United Nations bodies on issues affecting them.
IX. Interactive dialogue with national human rights institutions,
regional human rights institutions and indigenous human
rights institutions
59.
Mr. Tsykarev, in opening the interactive dialogue, recalled the importance of item 6
in relation to the amended mandate of the Expert Mechanism. He stressed the enhanced
engagement of the Expert Mechanism with national and regional human rights institutions
not only during annual sessions but also during intersessional meetings. Regarding the
latest developments, Mr. Tsykarev drew attention to the draft discussion paper emerging
from the annual general meeting of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights
Institutions with the purpose of identifying areas of cooperation between National Human
Rights Institutions and the Expert Mechanism (see annex).
60.
Mr. Tsykarev thanked the Danish Institute for Human Rights for supporting the
participation of the national human rights institutions at the session and welcomed the
following panellists: Suzanne Shatikha Chivusia, member of the Kenya National
Commission on Human Rights; Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana member of the Commission on
Human Rights of the Philippines; Konstantin Robbek, Ombudsman for small-numbered
indigenous peoples’ rights of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russian Federation;
Marjorie Herrera Castro, member of the Special Protection Unit, National Human Rights
Institution of Costa Rica; and Joel Hernández, member of the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights.
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