E/2002/43/Rev.1 E/CN.19/2002/3/Rev.1 Chapter II Introduction 33. By its resolution 2000/22, the Economic and Social Council decided to establish as a subsidiary organ of the Council the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, consisting of 16 members, eight to be nominated by Governments and elected by the Council and eight to be appointed by the President of the Council following formal consultations with the Bureau and the regional groups through their coordinators, on the basis of broad distribution of the indigenous peoples of the world as well as on the principles of transparency, representivity and equal opportunity for all indigenous people, including internal processes, when appropriate, and local indigenous consultation processes, with all members serving in their personal capacity as independent experts on indigenous issues for a period of three years with the possibility of re-election or reappointment for one further period (for the current membership, see A/56/3/Add.4). 34. The Council also decided that States, United Nations bodies and organs, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Council may participate in meetings of the Forum as observers. It further decided that organizations of indigenous peoples may equally participate as observers in accordance with the procedures which have been applied in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. 35. The Council decided that the Forum shall serve as an advisory body to the Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues within the mandate of the Council relating to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. The Council decided that the Forum shall: (a) Provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, and through the Council to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations; (b) Raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities relating to indigenous issues within the United Nations system; (c) 10 Prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.