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United Nations, 20 May 2016 — The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues concluded its 15th session today with the adoption of a report, including recommendations for States, UN bodies and Indigenous Peoples. The report adopted by the expert members of the Permanent Forum, as orally revised (unedited), is available below, with the official document expected in June. The report will be presented to the Economic and Social Council in July 2016.
More than 1,000 Indigenous Peoples’ representatives attended the session, which took place from 9 to 20 May 2016 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Forum heard statements from Indigenous Peoples, UN Member States, UN agencies and other stakeholders. The discussions covered the main theme of “Indigenous Peoples: conflict, peace and resolution” as well as other pertinent topics for Indigenous Peoples, including their participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the upcoming ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2017.
“After two weeks of dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, Member States and UN entities, the Permanent Forum has today made strong recommendations to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ rights in times of conflict which is increasingly affecting them on their lands and territories,” said Mr. Alvaro Pop, the Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He added that, “the statements made during the 2016 session show a worrying trend of increased threats and violations against indigenous human rights defenders – and that there is an urgent need to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ access to justice and to address impunity.”
At the closing of the session, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and said that “States must be held accountable for implementing the 2030 Agenda, with full respect for the rights and minimum standards guaranteed for Indigenous Peoples in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
See the report adopted by the expert members of the Permanent Forum, as orally revised (unedited) here:
To read more about the 15th Session, including background documents, press releases and media content, see here
