The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will hold its Twelfth Session between May 20 to 31, 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York City. The UNPFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). [UNPFII] Its mandate includes providing expertise and recommendations regarding indigenous issues to ECOSOC and UN programs, agencies, and funds; raising awareness about indigenous issues; integrating and coordinating activities relating to indigenous peoples; and preparing and disseminating information about indigenous issues. Its sixteen members are independent experts nominated by both governments and indigenous groups.
At the session, participants will discuss implementation of the Permanent Forum’s previous recommendations concerning health, education, and culture, which are the focus of this year’s session. [UNPFII Agenda] In addition, they will discuss the African region, the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Millenium Development Goals, and the Permanent Forum’s future work. Participants will also hold dialogues with international financial institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the International Finance Corporation in order to encourage indigenous participation. [UN]
The session agenda includes review of the report Analysis of Health, Education and Culture prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, E/C.19/2013/19, on implementation of the second to eleventh sessions’ recommendations on health, education and culture. The UNPFII also received inputs from States, NGOs, and UN and other intergovernmental bodies on the implementation of recommendations related to health, education and culture. With regard to education, the discussion also focused on a study of “how the indigenous knowledge systems, history and the contemporary social circumstances of indigenous peoples are embedded in the curriculum of education systems.” On culture, the session reviewed one study on “on engaging indigenous peoples more inclusively in the disaster risk reduction process” and another on “resilience, traditional knowledge and capacity building in Arctic and sub-Arctic indigenous reindeer herding.” Regarding indigenous issues in Africa, the dialogue centered on the recognition of indigenous identity, dispossession and displacement, and competition for natural resources.
Other reports presented during the session included a Study on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Truth Commissions and Other Truth-Seeking Mechanisms on the American Continent, E/C.19/2013/13, and the Consolidated Report on Extractive Industries and Their Impact on Indigenous Peoples, E/C.19/2013/16, among many others.
On the topic of human rights, the Forum session includes discussion of implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and a dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Prior to the Forum’s human rights dialogue, the Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, held individual meetings with representatives from indigenous peoples and organizations.
During the opening session, several UN officials, including the Secretary-General, Vice President of the General Assembly, and the President of ECOSOC, made statements. [UNPFII] The Forum Chair, Paul Kanyinke Sena spoke in particular about determining the degree to which the Forum’s recommendations on health, education, and culture have been implemented at local levels. [UN] Mr. Sena highlighted the importance of education for indigenous youth, the need to address preventable diseases among indigenous populations, and the need to respect indigenous autonomy.
Additionally, about 70 side events will take place during the session, organized by UN Member States, UN entities, NGOs, intergovernmental groups, and others. Some of these events will focus on improving communication between indigenous peoples and governmental and intergovernmental agencies, violence against indigenous women, environmental concerns, and indigenous youth.
The UNPFII is of three UN bodies dedicated to indigenous issues, the others being the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, both mandated by the UN Human Rights Council.
For more information about the UNPFII’s Twelfth Session, see UN Press Releases and the Session’s documents.