E/2006/43 E/C.19/2006/11 35. The protection of traditional knowledge is an important issue for indigenous groups, yet many feel that the intellectual property system fails to adequately safeguard traditional knowledge. A number of actions have been proposed by developing countries and others in order to redress the imbalances in the intellectual property system at the international level. One key proposal is to require the disclosure in relevant patent applications of the origin or source of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. This would help countries keep track of how their genetic resources are being used and patented abroad. Such a requirement could also include evidence of prior informed consent and benefit-sharing. 36. The Permanent Forum reiterates the recommendations on HIV/AIDS made at its second, third and fourth sessions regarding data disaggregation and culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS programmes, 6 and urges Governments, the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations to ensure the full and effective participation, and free, prior and informed consent, of indigenous peoples in all programmes related to the prevention and treatments of HIV/AIDS in indigenous communities. 37. Governments, the United Nations system and donor agencies are urged to support the formation of an international network of traditional healers who work with HIV/AIDS patients and organize expert meetings between traditional and medical practitioners on HIV/AIDS and traditional medicine. 38. The Permanent Forum expresses its support for the Toronto Charter: Indigenous Peoples’ Action Plan on HIV/AIDS, and urges the Sixteenth International AIDS Conference, which will be held in Toronto, Canada, in August 2006, to take note of its contents and indigenous peoples’ rights to health and wellbeing, and requests that an invitation to attend be extended to the Permanent Forum. 39. The Permanent Forum recommends that the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues convene a technical workshop on indicators, in collaboration with the United Nations organizations dealing with this issue, with the participation of indigenous experts, with a view to promoting a collaborative, complementary and holistic approach to indicators in order to enhance understanding of indigenous concerns and their possible solution, and requests the workshop to submit its report to the Permanent Forum at its sixth session. 40. Considering the commitment made by the World Bank at the Conference on Poverty Reduction and Indigenous Peoples (New York, 9 and 10 May 2006) to further explore inter-agency mechanisms to support the inclusion of indigenous peoples in national poverty reduction strategies in a limited number of pilot countries, the Permanent Forum recommends that Governments, indigenous organizations, United Nations organizations and bilateral donors fully contribute to that initiative and report back to the Permanent Forum on the progress made and the opportunities and limitations encountered, with a view to replicating the initiative in other countries. 41. The Permanent Forum expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for its training programme established to enhance the conflict prevention and peacebuilding capacities of __________________ 6 8 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 23 (E/2003/43), chap. I, paras. 70, 75 and 76; ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 23 (E/2004/43), chap. I, paras. 88-89; and ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 23 (E/2005/43), chap. I, para. 118.