A/HRC/24/49
28.
Mr. Tsykarev thanked the Sami Parliament and the Government of Norway for
hosting and providing financial support for the Global Indigenous Preparatory Conference,
which was held in Alta, Norway. He highlighted that the sixth session of the Expert
Mechanism provided the first opportunity to consider further the Alta Outcome Document,
which outlines four themes proposed for discussion at the World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples. He emphasized that the Expert Mechanism welcomed the opportunity to initiate
global consultations on the formulation of the outcome of the World Conference. Mr.
Tsykarev further noted that the seventh session of the Expert Mechanism might be the last
opportunity for a global dialogue on the World Conference prior to September 2014.
29.
Mr. Tsykarev noted that the Expert Mechanism is committed to participating in
further preparatory meetings in Mexico and New York, as well as coordinating its work
with other United Nations bodies and mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council.
He underscored that the mechanism’s studies and advice inform the Alta Outcome
Document and the preparatory process provides an opportunity for greater analysis and
monitoring of the use of such studies and advice by States, indigenous peoples and the
United Nations system, including the opportunity to ensure national legislation is consistent
with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
30.
Mr. Tsykarev noted that 2014 will also mark the end of the Second International
Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and called for the establishment of a Third
International Decade.
31.
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya,
considered how the three United Nations mechanisms on indigenous peoples could
contribute to the preparations for the World Conference and to the event itself. He
recognized that the Alta Outcome Document is an important normative instrument and plan
of action and further noted that the outcome document provides an important overview of
the issues that are of central concern to indigenous peoples and adds to the understanding of
the priorities of indigenous peoples, both in terms of the content of the rights and how those
rights might be protected. He also encouraged other actors, including the United Nations
system, indigenous peoples, civil society and the private sector, to apply the Alta Outcome
Document.
32.
The Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Paul Kanyinke
Sena, outlined the forum’s recommendations relating to the World Conference, contained in
the report of its twelfth session. He noted the enhanced cooperation with the Special
Rapporteur and the Expert Mechanism, especially in the preparatory process leading up to
the World Conference, and considered ways of enhancing the United Nations mechanisms
on indigenous peoples going forward as part of the World Conference.
33.
The Co-Chair of the Indigenous Global Coordinating Group, Ghazali Ohorella, gave
an overview of the participation of indigenous peoples leading up to the Global Indigenous
Preparatory Conference held in Alta, Norway, and acknowledged the contributions of the
members of the Expert Mechanism, whose expertise assisted in building consensus during
the meeting. He highlighted key areas of the Alta Outcome Document, including the four
proposed themes, and made recommendations to the Expert Mechanism. Mr. Ohorella
recommended that the themes set out in the Alta Outcome Document be adopted as the
themes for the World Conference; that the Alta Outcome Document be used as the basis for
the final outcome document of the World Conference; that the Expert Mechanism
recommend to the President of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly that a State
representative and an indigenous peoples’ representative be appointed to conduct informal
consultations; and that the Expert Mechanism urge States which have not yet done so to
financially support indigenous peoples’ participation in the World Conference, including in
the preparatory activities.
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