E/2012/43
E/C.19/2012/13
peoples specifically concerning their claims to, or violations of, their rights to the
lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or
otherwise used or acquired. This recommendation deserves further elaboration by
indigenous peoples and others concerned. The Forum takes note of the mandate of
the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in this regard.
11. The Permanent Forum recommends that States and the United Nations system,
with particular attention to the activities of the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), introduce indigenous youth
perspectives into existing youth policies and plans, including the five-year action
agenda of the Secretary-General to address health issues. In addition, there should
be a distinct focus on indigenous youth by improving participation in decisionmaking and by introducing and including mental health services for young people,
with particular efforts to address suicide among indigenous youth.
Study on national constitutions
12. The Permanent Forum highlights the activities of those States that have
undertaken or are currently undertaking constitutional revision processes to
strengthen constitutional provisions on human rights, pluriculturalism and juridical
pluralism, among others, and also welcomes those States that are in the midst of
ongoing constitutional revision or reform processes. The Forum calls upon all
relevant States to review and revise their constitutions and legal frameworks to
comprehensively recognize the human rights of indigenous peoples. The Forum
recommends that the process of constitutional revision in Member States should be
driven by indigenous peoples.
13. The Permanent Forum calls upon all States to ensure that their political
institutions and structures are not used as a reason to relieve the State of its
responsibility to implement international human rights obligations in relation to the
rights of indigenous peoples.
14. The Permanent Forum calls upon States to ensure that racial
non-discrimination is guaranteed in their constitutions. The term “racial
discrimination” means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on
race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of
nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing,
of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural or any other field of public life. The Forum calls upon States to adhere to
the peremptory norm and the absolute prohibition against racial discrimination as
well as all other forms of discrimination, including gender and age.
Report on the impacts of land-use change and climate change on indigenous
reindeer herders land management
15. The Permanent Forum recommends that the relevant United Nations agencies
and Member States with reindeer herding peoples support training and education
programmes for indigenous reindeer herding youth and communities in order to
secure the future sustainability and resilience of the Arctic and sub-Arctic
indigenous pastoral reindeer herding societies and cultures in the face of climate
change, land-use change and globalization.
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