E/2006/43 E/C.19/2006/11 collection and identification of indicators relevant to indigenous peoples, the Millennium Development Goals and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Half-day discussion on Africa 104. Few African countries recognize the existence of indigenous peoples in their States. Even fewer recognize them in their constitutions or national legislation. The African populations that identify themselves as “indigenous” participate in various economic systems, namely, those encompassing hunter-gatherers, nomads and pastoralists, as well as small-scale agriculturalists. The situation in Africa is diverse and complex and varies from country to country and from community to community. While certain States and certain communities have made improvements, there are numerous pending challenges. The expropriation of lands and natural resources constitutes a major problem faced by indigenous peoples. In several regions occupied by indigenous peoples, infrastructures are missing or inadequate. Social services, such as schools and health centres, are few and deficient and roads and physical infrastructures are also lacking. 105. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recognizes that the report of the Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations/Communities, which was adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, constitutes a highly important instrument for the advancement of the human rights of indigenous peoples. 106. The Permanent Forum welcomes the contributions of the Governments that participated in the thematic discussion on Africa held during its fifth session and encourages all African Governments to contribute to the dialogue. 107. The Permanent Forum urges States to review their policies on decentralization, with a view to bringing them in line with international laws and adapting them to the specificities of nomadic peoples. 108. The Permanent Forum urges African States, in coordination with the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to support/organize two regional conferences/seminars in Africa, one for French-speaking States and the other for English-speaking States, to enhance the capacity of indigenous organizations to engage in dialogues with Governments at the country level and to promote an improved understanding of indigenous issues, including through the teaching of indigenous languages at schools with the special adaptation of education to the way of life of nomadic peoples; recognizing and sustaining indigenous knowledge systems and partnerships between States and indigenous peoples on the protection of conservation areas; and inter-agency consultation on poverty reduction strategies and on designing a regional strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 109. The Permanent Forum urges the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to coordinate their regional strategies and programmes so as to implement the Permanent Forum’s recommendations in Africa. 110. The Permanent Forum urges WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNESCO to convene a consultative process in Africa with indigenous women, including rural and nomadic women, in order to (a) define indicators of gender equality and poverty eradication; (b) define a human rights approach to maternal health and the reduction 18