GLOBAL FORUM ADOPTS DECLARATION, ACTION PROGRAMME

ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND INFORMATION SOCIETY

Documents to Be Submitted to World Summit on Information Society

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

GENEVA, 11 December  -- The Global Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Information Society today adopted a Declaration and a Programme of Action that seeks to improve the plight of indigenous communities around the world through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

The documents, adopted by consensus by the Forum’s some 150 participants, will be officially presented on 12 December byOle-Henrik Magga, the Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to the plenary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), being held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December.

The Global Forum, held in Geneva from 8 to 11 December, addressed the main concerns of indigenous peoples vis-à-vis ICT, and set out how indigenous communities can benefit from ICT to meet needs in areas such as culture, the environment, health, education, human rights, women’s issues and capacity building.  It identified many challenges, such as lack of resources by indigenous communities, as well as a lack of control most indigenous peoples experience, in terms of having to adapt to new technologies rather than being able to adapt technologies to suit their needs.

The Forum agreed that indigenous peoples should play a part in the preparatory process for the second phase of the Summit in 2005 in Tunis, and win concrete results at that conference, after having been given short notice to prepare for, and participate in, the Geneva phase.  Specifically, the meeting called on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to play an important part in the preparations for the Tunis summit.

The meeting was attended by government representatives from Australia, Canada, Norway and the United States; by corporations such as Microsoft and Xerox; and by indigenous organizations and experts.

“This event is a chance for indigenous people around the world to become engaged with the World Summit on the Information Society”, said Mr. Magga at a press briefing.  “By discussing opportunities and challenges facing people around the world, we are creating solutions that will help indigenous peoples move forward in meaningful ways.”

Indigenous ICT practitioners from around the world presented many of their own unique applications.  “Indigenous people have much to offer to the information society”, Mr. Magga said.  “They have already demonstrated initiatives that show creativity and practicality.”

Forum participants agreed that indigenous peoples should be the ones to decide when, what and for what reason to use ICT.  The meeting discussed issues that are at the core of indigenous identity, such as ICT and cultural preservation and promotion, with ICT being seen both as a threat and an opportunity.

“Indigenous peoples are keen to preserve and pass on their diverse cultures to future generations, and are examining the new tools of the information society to see how they can assist”, Mr. Magga said.  Information technology is greatly benefiting indigenous communities, especially those in remote locations, Mr. Magga said, but at this stage only a fraction of these communities had access to ICT.

Participants said that indigenous communities in prosperous countries were utilizing ICT very well, while those in developing countries felt excluded from the benefits of ICT, much like the rest of the population in their own countries.

“The concerns of 370 million indigenous people are not reflected in the Summit’s outcome documents”, said Forum Member Mililani Trask at the press briefing, adding that not even a paragraph in the Summit’s draft Declaration and Action Plan addresses the concerns of indigenous communities.  Previous paragraphs addressing specific indigenous concerns -- human rights and fundamental freedoms, cultural diversity and local content, and the right of free prior informed consent on the exploitation of indigenous resources –- were deleted from the Summit’s outcome documents, Ms. Trask said, as had happened at previous United Nations conferences.

Indigenous communities often harbour great natural resources, which are exploited by biotechnology, drug and mining companies and the tourism industry, participants said.  Indigenous communities have often complained of not enjoying the benefits deriving from their own resources.

According to Mr. Magga, “creative partnerships are being developed between indigenous peoples, States and private enterprises that already show much promise”.

The Global Forum was the only official parallel event for indigenous peoples at the Summit, and one of three such events at the World Summit.

The event was facilitated by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in partnership with the World Summit Secretariat and the Canadian Aboriginal Portal.  The Secretariat assists the Permanent Forum in carrying out its mandate, which covers the areas of economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.  It provides expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and to United Nations programmes, funds and agencies, and helps to raise awareness of indigenous issues within the United Nations system.

For information please visit:  http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/pfii/wsis_gfipis.htm; or http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/international.html.

Contact:  John Scott, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, e-mail Scott9@un.org, tel. (Geneva): 41 (0) 79 615 4980, tel. (New York): 1 212 917 367 5798; or Edoardo Bellando, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel. (Geneva): 41 (0) 79 615 5319, tel. (New York): 1 212 963 8275.

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