E/2006/43 E/C.19/2006/11 Chapter V Organization of the session A. Opening of the session 1. The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held its fifth session at United Nations Headquarters from 15 to 26 May 2006. It held 17 (formal) open meetings to consider items in the agenda and four (formal) closed meetings for consultations among members of the Permanent Forum. 2. At the 1st meeting, on 15 May, the session was opened by the UnderSecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. The Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People was launched at the same meeting. During the opening ceremony, Clint Shenandoah, Chief of the Onondaga Nation, United States of America, offered words of welcome to the session. 3. At the same meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations made a video statement. Statements were also made by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and the Acting President of the General Assembly. 4. Also at the 1st meeting, a statement was made by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the fifth session of the Permanent Forum. 5. At the second meeting, on 15 May, statements were made by David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bolivia; Carmen María Gallardo, Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women; J. L. Alvarado, Chairperson of the Working Group to Prepare the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Organization of American States; Phrang Roy, Assistant President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and Marisela Padron Quero, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Division, United Nations Population Fund, on behalf of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund. B. Attendance 6. Members of the Permanent Forum and representatives of Governments, United Nations and intergovernmental organizations and bodies, and non-governmental and indigenous organizations attended the session. The list of participants is contained in annex I. C. Election of officers 7. At its 2nd meeting, on 15 May, the Permanent Forum elected the following members of the Bureau by acclamation: Chairperson: Victoria Tauli-Corpuz 30