Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Second Session

3^rd & 4^th Meetings (AM & PM)                     

NEED FOR DATA, FUNDING, CLOSER COOPERATION WITH UNITED NATIONS

STRESSED IN INDIGENOUS FORUM DISCUSSION

Indigenous groups stressed the need for disaggregated ethnic data, increased Secretariat funding and closer cooperation with United Nations agencies, as the Forum on Indigenous Issues discussed its methods of work with the United Nations system in two meetings today.

The Inter-Agency Support Group joined the Forum’s consideration outlining United Nations activities carried out to address indigenous concerns.

Addressing the issue of disaggregated data, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the problem of gaps and weak national capacities in data collection and analysis in developing countries.  A number of international bodies, she said, were now helping those nations enhance their abilities to transform data into meaningful policy and programmes.

The Forum must capitalize on the current global trend to expand and refine statistical methods to raise the profile of indigenous issues, she said.  Stressing that qualitative and quantitative information on ethnicity were needed, she said the paper prepared by the organization had recommended holding an expert meeting to outline the goals of disaggregated data.

A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) noted that some regional and national human development reports had included data disaggregated by ethnic groupings, language groupings, gender, geographic regions, and age.  Through disaggregated data, those reports were able to better identify pockets of deprivation and discrimination, and draw up policies to address such constraints.

Addressing other aspects of the Forum’s work, a representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) stressed the importance of a two-way relationship between the Forum and United Nations agencies, and of ensuring that budgetary obligations were met.  He urged the Forum to consult with those bodies, so that duplication of work would be avoided.

A World Bank representative said his institution was currently conducting 232 projects that actively engaged indigenous peoples.  Moreover, it had more than 50 global environment facility programmes, and would soon be discussing a small grant facility for indigenous people, a financial contribution to the Forum, and a pilot programme on capacity-building for indigenous peoples.

During the ensuing discussion, Forum members stressed the importance of disaggregated data, and recommended a workshop on the issue to identify problems and possible solutions.  They also questioned whether the term “indigenous” could be used when seeking global data on indigenous peoples, and about the use of official and non-official, including non-written, sources.

Responding to those concerns, the WHO representative said that terms varied throughout the world for peoples who were disadvantaged, ethnically, religiously or otherwise, and that it was virtually impossible to use the term indigenous when seeking global data.  As for official and non-official sources, she said United Nations bodies must work mainly with reported official data, noting that multiple sets of data could provide different pictures.

Other speakers stressed the need for an international meeting to guarantee the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples, since neither State nor domestic mechanisms seemed able to do so.  A representative of the Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council and Regional and Global Organization asked the Forum to recommend that the Economic and Social Council consider using international bodies and agencies, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, to redress violations of indigenous land and treaties.

Several speakers emphasize the importance of increased funding for Forum activities, as well as for travel to international meetings.  A representative of the United Nations Associations of the United States and Afghanistan said the Forum urgently needed funding for technical seminars and an extensive indigenous database.  In addition to regular funds, efforts should be made to generate funds from organizations interested in the rights of indigenous peoples.

Participants also pointed to difficulties indigenous people had faced in becoming accredited and travelling to international meetings.  A representative of the Pacific Caucus noted that many indigenous peoples had been denied visas to enter the United States.  Last year, for example, some 45 of 50 African applicants had been denied entry to attend the Forum session.

Also today, the Forum concluded its high-level panel discussion on indigenous children and youth.

Also addressing the Forum were the representatives of Denmark, New Zealand, Japan, and Australia.  Representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) also made statements.

Other speakers included representatives of the Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Artic Region, the Organization Indegena Chiquitana, the Metis National Council, Tonatierra, the Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network, and the Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 May, to begin its discussion on economic development.

Background

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues met this morning to conclude its high-level panel and dialogue on indigenous children and youth.  It was then expected to begin discussing its methods of work with the United Nations system.  (For background information, see Press Release HR/4658, issued on 8 May.)

High-Level Panel and Dialogue

Several speakers during the discussion drew attention to the plight of Canada’s indigenous youth, lamenting the large number of young people committing suicide and serving prison terms.  Could the Government not give those young people a life worth living?  Many of those young people wished to receive post-secondary educations, but languished on waiting lists due to lack of funding.

Others referred to the devastating losses colonialism had inflicted in Canada, especially for women.  The legacy of colonialism must be ended, along with the endless cycle of sexual abuse, and the prevalence of indigenous women in the sex trade.  They called for the Forum to support the Indigenous Elder Summit in 2004, which would bring together elders in an effort to end violence and confusion in indigenous communities.  Canada must not undermine indigenous authority through its First Nation Governance Act, they stressed, but implement the First Nation’s Plan that was developed by and for the First Nation.

Addressing indigenous issues in Australia, other speakers drew attention to the large number of young people in Australia’s prisons, as well as drug problems that had given rise to deformed babies.  Young indigenous people were suffering from a vacuum in their lives, and must be given a more positive attitude towards the future.

Speakers also highlighted indigenous issues in northern Africa, where indigenous people were in grave danger of losing their cultural identities.  Indigenous people were sitting at the bottom of the list for human development, literacy, security and adequate living conditions.  Young people had little access to information technologies, and the lack of democracy in several regions deprived young people of political and civil rights.

They called for wider democracy in the United Nations system to facilitate the direct participation of Africa’s indigenous peoples.  Nations must ratify international treaties, and then carry out programmes to implement them.  They must make recommendations for adequate resources and form partnerships with indigenous peoples to eliminate illiteracy, disease, and poverty, and promote indigenous cultural identities.

Speakers also drew attention to the young indigenous people suffering from poverty and marginalization in Latin America.  It was important to give legal status to the institution of the indigenous family and to protection of indigenous children and youth from any acts of violence.  The provision of facilities for education and health care, safe drinking water and sanitation were also very important to improving the lot of indigenous youth in the region.

A representative of the Canadian Government said that the importance of aboriginal children and youth not only to their own communities, but also to all of Canadian society was recognized.  Canada’s 2001 census clearly showed that the aboriginal population was much younger and growing more rapidly then Canadian society as a whole, and would account for an increasing part of the growth of the working-age population.  Canada took very seriously the circumstances and future opportunities of indigenous children and youth, and was addressing these priorities both domestically and internationally.

Further speakers called for indigenous children and youth to have equal rights to high quality education in their mother tongue.  It was also stressed that education could promote tolerance and understanding of indigenous traditions in the wider world.  For example, a National Curriculum could teach all children, not just indigenous children, about different and indigenous cultures.

It was disappointing that indigenous children and young people were often left out of the decision making process, other speakers said.  Instead of regarding these young people as passive objects, they should be seen as active and independent subjects, ready and willing to take charge of their own lives.

Speakers also called for reliable and complete data in order to adequately examine the present situation that indigenous people were facing.

Speakers questioned how indigenous youth in Africa could tackle such problems as economic dependence, unemployment, high illiteracy, ignorance of indigenous rights and lack of scholastic infrastructures.  Young people were also the targets of violence from hostile groups, they noted, since they represented the future of indigenous peoples.  In addition, many had no chance to express themselves or participate in decision-making, which was vital for survival.

Speakers also stressed the importance of reducing indigenous stereotypes by promoting the awareness of indigenous people through the media and other sources.  In Australia, for example, many aboriginal young people had difficulties coming to terms with who they were, due to the overt racism they faced.  That affected how children saw themselves, resulting in a lack of self-esteem, cultural identity and self-worth.

In concluding remarks, a Forum member stressed the urgency of putting commitments on issues dealing with indigenous children into action.  Those issues cut across the mandated areas of the Forum, as well as those of United Nations bodies.

She noted that the Forum had heard disturbing evidence of discrimination, violence, child military recruitment, abducted children, high suicide rates, and criminality among indigenous children.  The main obstacles for indigenous youth seemed to be a lack of funds and institutional structures.  A small percentage of the resources that had been used for one month of war in Iraq, she noted, would go a long way to opening up the future for indigenous youth.

The Forum, she continued, had also heard of positive developments, such as lower infant mortality rates and successful programmes in education.  Things were moving and the Forum must ensure that they accelerated.

The Forum then turned to its agenda item on the methods of work of the Forum with the United Nations system.

Statements from Inter-Agency Support Group

LEE SWEPSTON, a representative from the International Labour Organization (ILO) said that in 2001 his organization had begun to meet regularly to support the work of the Forum and terms of reference had been drawn up to facilitate and coordinate work.  The ILO itself had proposed a paper on disaggregated data and hoped for more coordinated work on prior informed consent.

Navin Rai, representative of the World Bank, said that last February the Inter-Agency Support Group had held its second formal meeting, at which 13 United Nations agencies had participated.  The Bank was one of the founding members of the Group.  The Bank was also very keen to collaborate on the project concerning disaggregated data. 

IAN JOHNSON, Vice-President of the World Bank, said that the Bank strongly believed that the Forum would become a key institution.  The Bank had participated in the first Forum session last year, and this year had brought a large delegation to New York.  There were about 232 projects under implementation in the Bank that actively engaged indigenous peoples.  The Bank also had over 50 global environment facility programmes, and was the first international financial institution to have a formal policy approved on indigenous peoples.

He intended to take to the board next month a new grant that would include three elements:  a small grant facility for indigenous people; a financial contribution to the Forum; and the development of a pilot programme on capacity-building for indigenous peoples.

JACKIE SIMS, of the World Health Organization (WHO), presented a paper on disaggregated data.  The main uses of data, she said, were to support decision-making policy, strategy and programme activities at both the national and international level.  It was clear that the quality and reliability of statistical information varied widely, and that variation was one reason for conflict over different findings.  Therefore, in order to get comparable and reliable results, the methods applied had to be standardized.

In developing countries, there were often problems due to data gaps, but more crucially due to weak national capacity to analyse existing data.  A number of international bodies, including some members of the United Nations system, were now working with developing countries to enhance national capacity to analyse data and to transform data into meaningful policy and programmes.  The most common variables by which data tended to be disaggregated in the United Nations system were age, sex, socio-economic class and rural/urban existence.  Large-scale data reporting exercises by the United Nations were usually not disaggregated by ethnicity.

It was necessary to capitalize on the current global trend towards expanding and refining statistical methods in order to raise the profile of indigenous issues, she said.  Ethnicity needed to be taken into account and qualitative and quantitative information were needed.  Indicators that took into account indigenous perspectives were also needed.  The paper’s recommendations included the holding of an expert consultation on data issues, which could include the definition of goals and purposes for which disaggregation of data by ethnicity was required.

Mr. SWEPSTON, of the ILO, stressed the importance of ensuring that there was a two-way relationship between the Forum and the agencies, that budgetary obligations were not simply displaced from one agency to another, that different parts of the United Nations system were consulted, and that parallel processes and work across the system were avoided. There was also a need to rotate the Forum’s meeting between New York and Geneva.

Questions and Comments

Speakers during the discussion asked whether it was possible to use the term “indigenous” when seeking global data on indigenous peoples.  They also asked whether it would be useful to use selected countries in seeking data.  Others asked about problems that could arise when using official and non-official, including non-written, sources.

A member of the WHO responded that terms varied throughout the world for peoples who were disadvantaged, ethnically, religiously or otherwise.  As such, it was impossible to use the term indigenous when seeking global data.  Regarding whether WHO had used selected countries in data collection, she said it had not, and that such decisions should be taken in collaboration with Forum members.

As for official and non-official sources, she acknowledged that unofficial sources could be helpful and reliable.  However, United Nations bodies must work mainly with reported official data.  It was difficult working with multiple sets of data that could provide different pictures.

Forum members stressed the importance of resolving the data problem, so that indigenous people could be recognized as such.  The Forum should recommend to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that it go forward with some sort of workshop on the issue, which would identify problems and possible solutions.

At least 20 countries around the world, others said, could show the Forum how they had put together data on indigenous people at the national level.  In addition, the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean had a treasure trove of statistics, and the World Bank had also made real progress.

Other speakers asked about a round table meeting that had taken place in October 2002 concerning World Bank policy on indigenous issues, and wished to know when they would be able to see the draft policy review.  Speakers were concerned that it would be submitted to the Board without being circulated among indigenous peoples first.  Speakers also stressed the need for grants, not lending.

Responding to questions from the floor, Mr. JOHNSON said that the round table meeting held in October had provided a lot of information for the Bank to think about.  The Bank was currently in the process of an internal review of its policy on indigenous peoples.  Next month, the review would be taken to a subcommittee of the board, the Committee on Development Effectiveness, to ask if a draft could be put in public domain for a period of discourse, so it could be aired and discussed with indigenous peoples.  He added that the proposal going forward in June was indeed for a grant facility, not a lending facility. 

The representative of Denmark noted that addressing indigenous issues was often controversial, and that the Forum should use a holistic approach, through consensus, towards solving them.  Since the Forum was made up of the most experienced experts in the area, it did not need special rapporteurs to assist it.  Rather, it should draw on existing expertise with the United Nations, including the special rapporteur on human rights issues.

Noting that addressing a specific theme during each session was helpful, he added that dialogues could be conducted as workshops on that subject.  The Forum could also consider establishing short-term and long-term programmes of work, and adopting a step-by-step approach to produce concrete results in advancing indigenous peoples.  To support the Forum’s work, Denmark would make a financial contribution of 1 million kroner, with no conditions attached.

WEND WENDLAND, Senior Counsellor, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said that WIPO was making substantial progress in clarifying the intellectual property needs of indigenous peoples.  A Committee on intellectual property had been set up, whose mandate was to act as a forum for discussion between United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations on intellectual property matters.  The WIPO hoped to expand its cooperation with the Forum and hoped that the Forum could raise further awareness and encourage indigenous peoples to participate actively in the work of WIPO.  In response to a request from the floor, he said WIPO was hoping to prepare a more detailed and directly related report for the Forum.

KENT LEBSTOCK, speaking on behalf of the Teton Sioux Nation Treaty Council and Regional and Global Organization, said that only an international meeting could guarantee the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples.  There was almost unanimous opinion that existing State mechanisms were unable to support indigenous peoples and neither were domestic remedies.  He asked the Permanent Forum to recommend that ECOSOC consider using international bodies and agencies within the United Nations system, including the International Court of Justice and the newly established International Criminal Court, for the preservation and redress of violations to indigenous human rights related to land and treaties.  He also recommended that the Forum encourage ECOSOC to approve the convening of a world conference on treaties relating to indigenous peoples.

SUHAS CHAKMA delivered a joint statement on behalf of Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network; Lumand Peoples Movement for Peace; and the Hill Watch Human Rights Forum.  He said that the Permanent Forum should record or find ways to record the summary of the oral interventions of the delegates in the report to ECOSOC.  It should also develop principles on the integration of indigenous peoples issues in the United Nations system for consideration of ECOSOC and the Secretary-General, and the Secretary-General should subsequently adopt those principles to ensure that indigenous peoples priorities were properly reflected in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

If the Forum was to have any meaning for more than 300 million indigenous peoples, the rhetorical discussions at the Forum and at the headquarters of United Nations agencies must be transformed into principles to be implemented at the national level by United Nations agencies.  Unless the Secretary-General adopted such principles, it would be difficult for the Forum to ensure that United Nations agencies at the national level gave adequate priority to indigenous issues.

LE’A MALIA KANEHE, of the Pacific Caucus, said the Forum needed the appropriate credentials, as well as a budget to carry out its work.  Its ability to perform would be tempered by its capacity to fund the necessary work.  The Caucus was concerned that the Forum was not being treated accordingly, and troubled by reports of disparate treatment regarding appropriate credentials and badges to even enter the front door of the United Nations for the Forum session.

Many indigenous peoples had been denied visas to enter the United States to attend Forum sessions, she continued.  Last year, for example, some 45 of 50 African applicants were denied entry.  This year, indigenous people trying to come from West Papua were not allowed to leave Jakarta, Indonesia.  There was no justification to treat indigenous peoples experts, organizations, and interns as terrorist or security threats.

Indigenous peoples sorely needed regional consultations with various respective regions.  Those who could afford to travel were few, compared to those who stayed at home.  The Forum experts were not paid and had no budget to come to the Pacific.  The region needed assistance to have its voices heard.

A representative from the Society for Threatened Peoples International stressed that a regular funding plan for the Forum and its Secretariat be set up within the current United Nations budget, which would cover the costs of the Secretariat, as well as costs incurred by Forum members in carrying out their work.  In addition, an effort should be made to generate extra-budgetary funds from sources interested in indigenous issues.

A representative of the Tebtebba Foundation, Asian Caucus, and Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus on Sustainable Development recommended drawing up a Forum policy and work plan that would take into account decisions for implementing the Johannesburg Summit and other United Nations world conferences and summits.  It must also be aware of the deadlock in current Doha talks, as they related to indigenous concerns.

She also suggested that the Forum comment on systematic policy attempts by international institutions to accelerate the provisions of essential services, such as water, which could affect indigenous control and access to those resources.  She stressed that programmes of international financial institutions should be subject to research by the Forum.  To carry out its mandate, it must fully understand the outcomes and implementation of all conferences and summits as they relate to indigenous peoples.

KRISTINA NORDLING, the representative of the Artic Region, recommended that the Permanent Forum call on governments, foundations and others to give generously to the Voluntary Fund in order to promote the work of the Forum.  She also recommended that the Permanent Forum ask ECOSOC to devote the high-level segment of its regular session in 2006 to indigenous issues.  The Permanent Forum should also adopt and /or amend rules of procedure to enable indigenous peoples and their representative councils, institutions, and organizations and parliaments to be accredited to and to participate in the Forum sessions in their own capacity, with full privileges and prerogatives as those granted to Category I non-governmental organizations with ECOSOC consultative status.

CARLOS CUASE SURUBI, of the Organization Indigena Chiquitana, said that his people had been the victims of large multinational corporations that violated the rights of indigenous people.  The Forum should be aware of violations of human rights in Bolivia by oil, mining and forestry companies.  The United Nations should take a stand, as his people were at risk of losing their cultural identity if those territories were lost to them.

JONATHAN AUSTIN (New Zealand) believed the role of States in the Forum was to maximize indigenous involvement, to contribute to constructive dialogues and to support the work which the Forum was undertaking.  The imperative must be for United Nations activity in the indigenous area to be focused, to be effective and, above all, to deliver practical benefits for indigenous peoples.  It was important to ensure that there was clarity, understanding and appreciation of the contribution the Forum could make.  The Forum should strive to improve the responsiveness of existing mechanisms, rather than create new ones.  At a time when the United Nations’ resources were so stretched, it would be important to avoid duplication.

EIJI YAMAMOTO (Japan) said it was imperative to consider how the Forum could carry out its mandate effectively.  It was important to coordinate and integrate activities concerning indigenous issues within the United Nations system and Japan welcomed the establishment of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum last February.  Japan also expressed its appreciation for the work of the Inter-Agency Support Group.  Its activities were very important, as the Group provided the opportunity for the United Nations and its agencies to share information and experience and enhance coordination and cooperation within the United Nations system.

Speaking on behalf of two groups -- the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC) and Tamayut African Indigenous Peoples Coordinating Committee -- a representative said the Forum should produce clear recommendations and criteria aimed at protecting the rights of indigenous peoples.  It should work on a resolution for ECOSOC that would determine and define the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, which should be completed.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) representative said indigenous experts and other specialists had served as resource persons for a training programme in August in Geneva on advanced conflict analysis and negotiation.  The first regional programme on conflict prevention and peace-building had been held this year in Thailand.  The UNITAR would continue to invite indigenous people to serve as resource persons for its meetings regarding indigenous peoples.

TRACEY WHARE, of the Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust of New Zealand, recommended that specific questions be put to United Nations agencies by the chair and addressed during the Forum.  She also suggested that the Secretariat invite all United Nations bodies to attend the Forum session by way of written invitation, and that international agencies be encouraged to report to the Forum on the specific theme of each session, as well as on mandated areas that effected their work.

VANDA ALTARELLI, speaking on behalf of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said that IFAD had been created 25 years ago with the mandate of dealing with the poorest areas.  In doing so, IFAD started working with indigenous peoples, indeed, about 20 per cent of IFAD’s lending programme in Asia and Latin America went to indigenous peoples.  In addition to the loan programme, IFAD also had some provision for grant instruments that could be used by indigenous peoples organizations.

SELMAN ERGUDEN, speaking on behalf of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said that it would be practical if the Permanent Forum members could make a division of labour, so that the various United Nations agencies could have a direct point of contact.  That would facilitate an exchange on information between the Forum and United Nations agencies.

GOODLUCK DIIGBO, President of the Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment, said he hoped the Forum would make specific recommendations, and not merely adhere to general principles.  That could be done through identifying specific issues, identifying specific indigenous peoples and groups affected by the specific issues, drawing up a timetable for specific case-by-case review and presentation by indigenous peoples and groups.  A case-by-case approach dialogue would create room for specific follow-up action to help resolve difficult situations.

He also felt that the Permanent Forum should have its mandate strengthened, with the competence to urgently intervene to prevent irreparable damage from being done.  A further suggestion concerned access to the Forum for indigenous peoples who may disagree with Member States.  When space and time were not created for meaningful dialogue, conflicts became protracted.  Such circumstances had led to violence and wars that, in every sense, worked against the primary goals of the United Nations.

TONY BELCOURT, President of the Metis Nation of Ontario, said that, in order for the Permanent Forum to prove its value, it must render its talk into action.  The idea of having a theme for each session was a good one, he said.  However, he urged the Forum to then define action that might be initiated in designated places from time to time.  The Forum should pick one or several countries that were willing to work with the Permanent Forum and indigenous peoples, and recruit the assistance of the other United Nations agencies to join strategically to do good work in these chosen places.

The Forum must be its own master and be supported by a qualified and dedicated indigenous staff, he said.  Last year, the Metis Nation offered to the Permanent Forum, on a year-to-year basis, one fully funded staff member from the Metis people.  A full year had gone by since that offer had been made, but the United Nations was still unable to accept it and act upon it.  He was dismayed to learn that a legal opinion existed that it was impossible for the United Nations to enter into an agreement directly with the Metis nations.  Let the law be changed, he continued, because surely the United Nations did not want to be seen turning down the hand of members of the most oppressed peoples, when they were in a position to contribute towards building strength and unity.

PRISCILLA LALONE, of the United Nations Associations of the United States and Afghanistan, stressed the need for the accreditation of indigenous peoples to Forum sessions and meetings, and the funding for travel to such events.  Also, indigenous peoples had met with difficulties in international travel, such as the denial to enter certain countries, and should be issued appropriate travel documents that would provide them with immunity.

Adequate funding for the Forum’s Secretariat and its was activities was an urgent concern, she said.  Those activities included technical seminars and setting up an extensive indigenous database.  She recommended that data collected by United Nations agencies be assembled in an extensive database made fully available to Forum members in carrying out their responsibilities.  In addition to regular funds, efforts should be made to generate funds from organizations interested in the rights of indigenous peoples.

A representative of the South Asia Indigenous Women’s Forum, said interaction with United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) was vital for indigenous women.  She recommended that the Fund be included in future Forum sessions, as well as other agencies involved in indigenous issues.

TUPEC ENRIQUE ACOSTA, of the Tonatierra indigenous group of the United States, recommended that the Forum recognize, accept and establish a treaty archive to serve as a repository of treaties, accords and other constructive international agreements between indigenous nations and states, and other international and political entities.  The archive would inform, orient and facilitate the productive implementation of the mandate of the Forum, as well as the rights of indigenous peoples in pursuit of shared goals and objectives in the areas of economic and social development, environment, health, human rights, culture and education.

A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said ensuring the cooperation of indigenous peoples was vital in ending conflict and reducing poverty.  The UNDP’s presence and coordinating role at the country level had enabled it to play a unique part in bringing together different stakeholders in the development process.

He said the UNDP understood the importance of disaggregated data on development.  Some regional and national human development reports had included data disaggregated by ethnic groupings, language groupings, gender, geographic regions, and age.  Through disaggregated data, both quantitative and qualitative, those reports were able to better identify disparities and pockets of deprivation and discrimination, and formulate policies to address those constraints to human development strategies.

Addressing land rights, he said the UNDP had begun preparing a draft policy guidance note on land rights, which would specifically be linked to the UNDP programming requirements and clearly set out key issues and challenges regarding land rights.

CHIEF VICTOR BUFFALO, speaking on behalf of the IOIRD, said that there was an alarming social disorder among young indigenous people in Canada, evidenced by alcohol and drug problems, and the high suicide rate.  His organization condemned the silence and the inaction of Canada with regard to this very disturbing problem.  The Canadian Government had forced his people to sign consent forms in order to obtain prescription drugs, a complete violation of human rights and the privacy of the individual.  He called on the Forum to ask Canada to address the problem of drug abuse amongst indigenous children and youth, as well as to call on Canada to provide resources to First Nations.

The representative of the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islanders Research Action pointed out that the New Zealand Government had said the role of States was to maximize indigenous participation in the Forum.  In the past few days, there had been a significant policy change by the Australian Government, which would make it difficult for Aboriginal people to participate in such forums.  In fact, the Australian Government was intending to halt indigenous participation in the Forum and other United Nations meetings, as it was not providing adequate funding or support for such activities.  Given the opposition to Aboriginal rights, why should the Australian Government be allowed to participate in the Forum? And why were other Governments cooperating with the Australian Government in such forums?

Australia’s representative said it was unfortunate that delegations chose to attack particular Governments.  That was not the purpose of the Forum.  Such issues should be taken up with the Governments themselves.  His Government supported the concept of interactive dialogue and hoped the Forum would lead to a real exchange of ideas.  He agreed that urgent work should be undertaken to finalize a declaration on the rights of indigenous people.

The representative of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the Permanent Forum said she was encouraged by the achievements of the Forum, which had increased the level of knowledge of the problems and of indigenous peoples.  To build upon the positive initial achievements, however, effective methods of work must be adopted.  The Indigenous Peoples Caucus believed that there was little knowledge about the Forum’s existence within the United Nations system.  Therefore, there should be a more systematic way of disseminating information, which should be a shared responsibility between the Forum, United Nations agencies, Member States and indigenous peoples themselves.

Questions and Comments

Commenting on the statements heard this afternoon, members of the Permanent Forum stressed the importance on focusing on the Millennium Development Goals.  Furthermore, there was a great need and a great opportunity for United Nations agencies to learn what each agency was doing, and where their priorities lay with regard to indigenous peoples.

Members also drew attention to the need to promote easier and better access by children and youth to future Permanent Forum meetings, and a speaker wondered if there should be a youth member on the Permanent Forum.

Also, members were convinced of the need to deepen the working relationship between the Members of the United Nations, the Inter-Agency Support Group and the indigenous peoples themselves.  They also highlighted the need for equitable representation and lamented the fact that Africa and Asia were poorly represented at the meeting today. 

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