E/2008/43 E/C.19/2008/13 88. The Permanent Forum notes the increasing incidence of tuberculosis among indigenous peoples, rates which are up to 20 to 30 times higher than those of non-indigenous communities. The Forum supports the proposal by the Assembly of First Nations in Canada and the Stop TB Partnership to hold an expert group meeting on the global situation of indigenous peoples with tuberculosis, which should include indigenous health experts, and encourages the organizers to invite members of the Forum. Education 89. The Permanent Forum is profoundly concerned about the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education regarding the extensive child-labour practices in many States involving indigenous children, which represents a grave violation of their human rights, including their right to education. The Forum urges States to consider their obligations in this regard according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Conventions No. 138 (Minimum Age Convention) and No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention). Human rights 90. The Permanent Forum reiterates its concern about information brought to its attention on continuing violations of human rights of indigenous peoples in various parts of the world, and calls upon all States to fully implement their obligations under the international human rights and humanitarian instruments. The Forum reiterates its call on States to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples constitutionally and legally, to strengthen their institutions for the promotion and protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples and to enhance awarenessraising and capacity-building efforts for government officials. 91. The Permanent Forum takes note of the upcoming World Congress of Protected Areas, to be held in Barcelona in October 2008. The Forum reiterates its recommendation to the 2003 World Congress of Protected Areas. The Forum requests that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples be duly considered in the deliberations and results of the World Congress on Protected Areas, and that its participating organizations address the issues of restitution and free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples for conservation activities affecting indigenous lands and territories, sacred sites and indigenous peoples’ conservation activities. 92. The Permanent Forum urges all States, when addressing situations of violence and abuse within indigenous communities, to do so on a non-discriminatory basis and consistent with human rights standards, the principle of free, prior and informed consent, and the full and effective participation of the indigenous peoples concerned. Half-day discussion on indigenous languages 93. It has been estimated that up to 90 per cent of the world’s languages will become extinct within the next 100 years if current trends continue. An overwhelming majority of those languages are indigenous languages. Languages are not only a communication tool, but an intrinsic aspect of identity, traditional knowledge, systems of values, world views and tradition. Consequently, policies of assimilation that lead to the destruction of languages have often been considered a 08-33882 15