Continuing Session, Economic and Social Council Adopts 5 Resolutions, 11 Decisions Ranging from Crime Prevention to Indigenous Issues
Continuing its coordination and management session, the Economic and Social Council today adopted 5 resolutions and 11 decisions on topics ranging from crime prevention and criminal justice to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and narcotic drugs to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
In the area of narcotic drugs, the Council adopted, without a vote, three decisions and two resolutions. Briefing on that issue, Vladimir Galuska, Chair of the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, said that 2016 was an important year as it contributed to the special session on the World Drug Problem. The session had resulted in the adoption of an outcome document on joint commitments to addressing and countering the world drug problem and providing recommendations on demand reduction.
Jagjit Pavadia, First Vice-President of the International Narcotics Control Board, emphasized that drug control actions must be consistent with human rights standards. Stressing that States had an obligation to protect children from drug use, she urged Governments to review their policies.
In other action, the Council adopted three decisions and three resolutions on the recommendations contained in the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
“Leaving no one behind can only be predicated on the rule of law and effective criminal justice system”, said Friedrich Dauble, Chair of the Commission, stressing the specific needs of vulnerable members of society. Presenting the activities, he said that the Commission had considered strategic management, budgetary and administrative questions, and the integration and coordination of efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Furthermore, it had adopted resolutions and decisions on combating trafficking in human organs, promoting legal aid and strengthening crime prevention.
Also today, the body adopted a decision on the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. By the text, the Council recommended that the General Assembly decide on enlarging the membership from 98 to 100 States, including Fiji and Paraguay.
It likewise adopted a decision titled “Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020”. By its terms, the Council called upon the least developed countries, their development partners, and the United Nations system to implement the commitments made in the Istanbul Programme of Action.
The Council also adopted by consensus three decisions contained in the report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its fifteenth session.
Other issues considered by the Council throughout the day included African countries emerging from conflict, long-term programme of support for Haiti, human rights, and the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
The Council will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 27 July, to take action on draft resolutions and conclude its work.
Implementation of and Follow-up to United Nations Conferences and Summits
GYAN CHANDRA ACHARYA, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, introduced the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020” (document A/71/66–E/2016/11). He said that the report provided information and analysis on progress since 2011, covering eight priority areas for action and the overarching goal of enhancing graduation. Most least developed countries had not met the targets of the Istanbul Programme of Action, which were closely linked with the Millennium Development Goals.
He said that agriculture still employed the largest share of the population in most least developed countries. In order to make progress, it was essential to focus global efforts on technology, market access, and inclusive and sustainable industrialization. Turning to capacity-building, he stressed that least developed countries remained constrained in their efforts to eradicate poverty and successfully implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Making progress would be possible through structural transformation of the economy, he stressed. Drawing attention to declining official development assistance (ODA), he said that the development partners must fulfil their commitments to provide 0.2 per cent of their gross national income (GNI).
Long-term Programme of Support for Haiti
MICHAEL DOUGLAS GRANT (Canada) presented the report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti (document E/2016/79), saying that the document focused on the main political, social and economic developments in Haiti. In 2015, the Group had looked forward to an election cycle that should have been completed by February 2016. While some progress had been made, the overall situation in Haiti was of concern. Political uncertainty was hurting the country. International support had declined in the absence of an elected President and due to the terms of existing loans not being honoured. The success of the elections would be fundamental to Haiti’s future, while every effort must be made to consolidate democracy, strengthen rule of law and reinstate representative institutions.
Other challenges were complicating the situation in Haiti, he continued. El Niño had an impact on the agricultural sector and there had been setbacks in progress made to address cholera. The Group was pleased to note that in recent months, the Government and partners had worked together to revitalize the coordination framework for external development assistance to Haiti. The Group had focused much of the report on the health-care sector due to the cholera epidemic. The report mentioned progress made in the fight against malaria, maternal deaths and HIV/AIDS, although it recognized new threats such as the Zika virus. Health conditions and the availability of safe drinking water had improved for too few Haitians. The State would be instrumental to efforts to reduce marginalization. The report welcomed South-South and triangular cooperation, as well as greater cooperation with Haitian civil society to improve the country’s development potential. Although humanitarian aid to Haiti had not decreased as much as ODA, the Group was in favour of greater international financial mobilization. Building capacity would be a long progress, while special attention must be paid to agriculture, energy, manufacturing and tourism.
MOURAD WAHBA, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Haiti, noted that the political situation in the country was gradually coming towards a resolution with the decision to hold elections on 9 October and the progress made by the provisional electoral council to register candidates and prepare for credible and transparent elections. However, that progress was not matched in the economic and humanitarian spheres. On the humanitarian front, there had been increases in the number of cholera cases, while it was becoming increasingly difficult to find adequate financing to address the disease. There had been some improvements in the agricultural situation, although farmers remained vulnerable. On the development front, he expressed concern about a reduction in spending on health care resulting in a strike in the general hospitals that had carried on for almost four months. There had also been reductions in spending in education, whereby some teacher salaries had not been paid in months.
Looking ahead, he underscored the close link between the humanitarian picture and development. The United Nations country team believed that many, if not all, of the humanitarian challenges facing Haiti were due to development failures. Climate change issues had been exacerbated by a lack of funding and poor urban planning. There was a direct link between humanitarian crises and long-term development funding. The country team was interested in continuing collaboration with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), with a gradual takeover of functions carried out by the peacekeeping operation.
The representative of Chile, expressing concern about the political situation, urged all Haitian actors to focus their efforts on the electoral process, and called upon donors to comply with their commitments. For its part, Chile had contributed to Haiti’s development in the areas of education, rural development, human capital training, and the creation of police capacity.
The representative of Haiti said that his country had made great progress while challenges remained at the humanitarian level. It was important to achieve a balanced resolution, he said, stressing the need to take into account the political progress. The electoral process had officially been launched, and the ballot would be conducted in October.
African Countries Emerging from Conflict
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director at the Regional Bureau for Africa of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), introduced the Secretary-General’s report “Implementation of integrated, coherent and coordinated support to South Sudan by the United Nations system” (document E/2016/71) and said that it was evident from it that a certain level of optimism existed prior to the recent fighting in Juba. There had been hope for peace, stability and development, although it was clear the path to those ideals would not be without challenge. The United Nations country team had been confronted with an overwhelming humanitarian challenge, although it recognized the need to focus on the medium- to long-term challenges facing South Sudan with a balanced approach. The country team had tried to promote a fundamental transformation towards peace and stability, while also balancing the need for sustainable development. A strengthened effort towards development would require fundamental reforms of the political and economic governance structures.
The events of early July were a stark reminder of the deep cleavages created by decades of conflict, she continued. Despite the peace deal, South Sudan was again a country at war with itself. The current conflict compounded an already dire humanitarian and socioeconomic crisis, resulting in more internally displaced people inside South Sudan. More than 4.8 million people were food insecure and the looting of humanitarian warehouses was hindering the response. Meanwhile, the emergency response plan was only 40 per cent funded. Human rights violations had been exacerbated further by the conflict, including children being recruited by armed forces. The politically-driven conflict had a significant impact on the economy of South Sudan, which was at risk of collapse. After more than two years of conflict, coping mechanisms were exhausted. The population had multiple urgent needs, including the provision of basic health care, education, water, hygiene and sanitation. Growing hostility had resulted in restricted access for many United Nations agencies. Political will would be the prerequisite for a return to a path of peace and development and would enable the United Nations and its partners to fulfil their mandates. Initiatives aimed at reconciliation and development must be launched at the local level, while the Government must hold those guilty of committing crimes accountable.
KOKI MULI GRIGNON, Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission, focused on lessons that could benefit several conflict-affected countries. She said that national ownership of the peacebuilding agenda and priorities of all national stakeholders must be respected. It was a principle that always guided the work of the Commission. Therefore, involving national stakeholders in all peacebuilding discussions was a big step towards long-term success. Furthermore, she said that countries in transition from conflict required committed financial and technical support from the international community to build a viable and functional State. In addition, she stressed the need to strengthen national and local institutional capacities, as well as the rule of law and security institutions.
The representative of the Republic of Korea said that there could be no sustainable development without peace. Expressing concern about the casualties resulting from conflicts and massive displacement in South Sudan, he urged all parties to refrain from hostilities.
The representative of Nigeria, describing South Sudan as a country of “great promise”, expressed hope that the international community would find ways to bring peace.
The representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said South Sudan had marked the fifth anniversary of its independence with a total of 2.6 million refugees and internally displaced people spread across seven countries. The latest outbreak of violence had led to further internal displacement and a spike in arrivals to Uganda, with over 37,000 refugees crossing the border since 8 July. Inside the country, civilians were prevented by armed groups from accessing safety and moving freely, including across international borders to Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. In addition, harassment, abuse, extortion, and summary executions of civilians seeking safety were commonplace. She asked the international community not to forget the South Sudanese and to provide the resources that UNHCR needed to deliver life-saving protection and assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons.
The representative of the World Food Programme (WFP), speaking also on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said that the past two years of fighting, a collapsing economy, high food prices and erratic rainfall had resulted in the deterioration of the food security situation in the country. The devaluation of the South Sudanese pound had had a direct impact on food prices. Currently, the country faced an inflation rate of over 300 per cent, the highest in the world. According to the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report, 40.2 per cent of the population could be facing emergency levels of food insecurity at the moment. “What the people of South Sudan need more than anything else is an inclusive and durable peace” she said, expressing hope that the parties would find a way to end the violence and tension.
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) said her agency was working to support the Ministry of Health in South Sudan, including by providing supplies, rebuilding primary health-care systems and training medical workers. Some 271 cholera cases had been reported, including 12 deaths. Her agency had worked to prevent the spread of the disease and provided oversight and coordinated response guidance to the outbreak. Further, WHO had established a Cholera Treatment Centre in Juba and worked to strengthen disease surveillance, including by following up with those that may have come into contact with the disease. An oral cholera campaign had been launched today, while other mobilization activities were taking place, including the delivery of supplies such as tents and cholera kits. She underscored that the outbreak exacerbated the challenges facing an already strained health-care system that was battling malnutrition, measles and malaria.
The Council then deferred action on the report until a later date.
The representative of Thailand, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, then introduced a draft resolution titled “Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020” (document E/2016/L.21). He said that all countries must work in a constructive manner and accelerate the provision of assistance to least developed countries.
Without a recorded vote, the Economic and Social Council adopted “L.21”.
The representative of Nicaragua, speaking after the adoption, said her country had not signed the Paris Agreement, and expressed reservation to operative paragraph 9.
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and Narcotic Drugs
FRIEDRICH DAUBLE, Chair of the twenty-fifth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations and other International Organizations at Vienna, presented the work of the Commission (document E/2016/30). He said that the Commission acted as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
At its twenty-fifth session, the Commission had considered strategic management, budgetary and administrative questions, and the integration and coordination of efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Commission had adopted a number of resolutions during its session, bringing them to the attention of the Council. The resolution entitled “Preventing and combating trafficking in human organs and trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal” urged Member States to prevent and combat trafficking in that trade. Furthermore, the text entitled “Promoting legal aid, including through a network of legal aid providers” encouraged Member States to adopt and strengthen measures to ensure effective legal aid. The resolution on strengthening crime prevention in support of sustainable development, including sustainable tourism, encouraged Member States to integrate crime prevention measures into all relevant social and economic policies and programmes.
“Leaving no one behind can only be predicated on the rule of law and effective criminal justice system,” he said, stressing the specific needs of vulnerable members of society, including children, youth, women, migrant and prison populations.
JAY KARIA, President of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, presenting the report of the Board (document E/CN.15/2016/8), said it aimed at contributing to the formulation and implementation of related policies through research, training, and field activities. Through prevention activities, the Institute touched the lives of those who were at risk of coming in contact with the criminal justice system.
Citing an example, he said that the Institute worked with the European Commission and the European External Action Service to address risks related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials. The goal of the project was to ensure that each country reinforced their policies and capabilities and mitigated the risks through changes in attitude, thinking and behaviour. As part of the process, partner countries were responsible for developing a national action plan. To support countries in that endeavour, the Institute had developed an innovative method of research, training, field activities and knowledge collection and dissemination based on guiding principles. The process had provided systematic behaviour change, he said, stressing that at the national level, plans identified priorities and fostered interagency coordination. At the international level, they provided a tool to reinforce donors’ coordination and fulfil the implementation of international legal instruments.
VLADIMIR GALUSKA, Chair of the fifth-ninth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, presented the highlights from the body’s work during its latest session (document E/2016/28), saying that 2016 was a special year for the Commission as it contributed to the special session on the World Drug Problem. More than 1,000 participants attended the session, which also included 70 side events organized by a broad range of stakeholders, and Member States adopted nine resolutions by consensus.
He recalled that the session resulted in the adoption of an outcome document titled “Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem”. The document provided guidance on the work to be conducted to counter the world drug problem, including operational recommendations on demand reduction, restricting the use of controlled substances, supply reduction and related measures and other cross-cutting issues. The Commission also adopted outcomes of the meetings of the subsidiary bodies. Further resolutions adopted covered promoting prevention strategies and policies, and the promotion of proportionate sentencing for drug-related offenses and the promotion of measures to target new psychoactive substances and amphetamine-type stimulants. The work of the Commission also contributed to the work of the Economic and Social Council with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, at all ages.
JAGJIT PAVADIA, First Vice-President of the International Narcotics Control Board, presented highlights of the Board’s work (document E/INCB/2015/1), recalling that over the past year it had participated in the special session on the World Drug Problem, which culminated in the adoption of the outcome document that reaffirmed the role of the Board. The annual report was supplemented by a number of special and technical reports that complimented the Board’s work. This year, the report’s thematic chapter focused on the ultimate goal of ensuring the health and welfare of mankind and the challenges in the international control of drugs. It emphasized that drug control actions must be consistent with human rights standards and that States had an obligation to protect children from drug use. In the report, the Board urged Governments to review policies in those areas and stressed that the international drug control conventions promoted the availability of drugs for medical purposes.
The report, she said, also underscored that treating drug abuse was critical for ensuring the health of mankind. She recalled that the relevant conventions did not promote the criminalization of drug abuse, nor did they call for a “war on drugs”. Rather, the conventions emphasized that health and welfare should be at the core of drug control policies. In the preparation of the report, the Board assessed the international drug control system through a number of visiting missions. New psychoactive substances continued to emerge over the last year at an alarming rate, requiring more flexible and workable approaches to dealing with such emerging challenges. With regard to cannabis, she highlighted that the flexibility of the relevant conventions did not extend to non-medical use of the plant. The Board remained concerned about the drug control challenges faced by Afghanistan and urged development partners to support the country in their control efforts. Throughout the report, the Board provided recommendations to Governments and regional organizations to enhance the implementation of the conventions. Further, the report highlighted the inadequate access to critical pain management and other substances under international control in low- and middle-income countries.
As the Council began its general discussion on those items, the representative of Mexico called for more complementarity between relevant United Nations agencies “given the current challenges” facing the international community and reiterated concerns about the lack of geographic diversity among UNODC’s staff. In addition, he expressed concern that some 90 per cent of pain medications were consumed in only 10 countries of the world.
The representative of Guatemala noted that progress was being seen in the areas of drug abuse prevention, United Nations system-wide coherence and respecting the principles of human rights. A comprehensive focus was required at all levels and there was a need to reduce the high cost of the world drug problem while protecting public health and respecting human rights. While the outcome document was not as ambitious as some delegations would have liked, the views expressed during the debate had been accurately taken into account.
The representative of Japan said that, as the host of the next United Nations Crime Congress, slated to take place in 2020, his country reaffirmed its commitment to implement the Doha Declaration. Noting that the rule of law was critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16, he welcomed the conclusion of the General Assembly’s special session on the World Drug Problem and underscored his delegation’s commitment to work to address and combat the global drug problem.
The Economic and Social Council then adopted, without a vote, two decisions contained in the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its reconvened twenty-fourth session.
The body went on to adopt, without a vote, three draft resolutions contained in the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its twenty-fifth session. The resolutions were titled “Follow-up to the Thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and preparations for the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice”; “Restorative justice in criminal justice matters”, and “Mainstreaming holistic approaches in youth crime prevention”, respectively.
Further, the Council adopted, without a vote, two draft decisions contained in that same report.
The Council then took note of the “Report of the Board of Trustees on major activities of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute”.
Turning to the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its reconvened fifty-eighth session, the Council adopted, without a vote, one decision.
Taking up the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its fifty-ninth session, the Council adopted two resolutions titled “Outcome document transmitted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to the General Assembly and recommended for adoption by the General Assembly and recommended for adoption at the plenary of the special session on the world drug problem to be held in 2016” and “Promoting the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development”, respectively.
Further, the Council adopted, without a vote, two draft decisions contained in that same report.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
CHRISTINE MATTHEWS, Deputy Director, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, presented an oral report on behalf of the High Commissioner, saying the number of people displaced throughout the world had soared to approximately 65.3 million. While countries had generally maintained open borders, a number of challenges remained. The world had witnessed the flood of refugees entering Europe as well as the sometimes “ad hoc” and exclusionary responses of a number of recipient countries. Noting that only about 200,000 refugees had been able to return home in 2015, she said that settlement efforts continued to play a key role, with 33 States offering resettlement services. UNHCR had continued to work with Governments and other stakeholders and continued to lead and coordinate international actions in favour of refugees and displaced persons in line with the refugee coordination model.
During the reporting period, the agency had held a bilateral meeting with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and it had worked with partners to respond to reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, she said. UNHCR led 22 out of 28 field protection clusters and it was working to design comprehensive protection strategies addressing four key areas: legal, economic, civil political, and cultural. The agency was fully committed to leveraging the Sustainable Development Goals to enhance protection for forcibly displaced peoples. To that end, it had strengthened its partnerships with actors such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank and private sector entities.
In addition, she said, the agency had assumed the positon of Chair of the Solutions Alliance, which brought together various partners to seek approaches that resolved situations of displacement and prevented new ones from becoming protracted. In 2015, UNHCR had launched an online “partner portal”, joining more than 600 non-governmental partners and other stakeholders. In addition, the annual UNHCR-non-governmental organization consultation had remained an important platform for sharing and dialogue, and the year’s thematic focus on youth had attracted many participants. Describing the UNHCR’s contributions to the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey, she said the agency had advocated for the centrality of protection, stressing that it must systematically inform humanitarian efforts.
The Council then took action on a draft decision titled “Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees” contained within document E/2016/L.29.
The representative of Fiji introduced the draft decision, noting that his country and Paraguay had requested membership in the Executive Committee of the Programme of UNHCR, saying that both countries had shown their commitment to the cause of refugees. He was confident that Fiji and Paraguay met the criteria for membership, recalling that both countries had demonstrated high levels of cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Council proceeded to adopt the draft decision without a vote.
Human Rights
IVAN ŠIMONOVIĆ, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, presented several reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), namely a thematic report on early warning and economic, social and cultural rights (document E/2016/58); the report of the Commission on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth sessions (document E/2016/22); and the biennial report by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (document A/71/41). A report by OHCHR was being finalized and would be presented to the General Assembly at its seventy-first session.
Noting that 2016 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the two International Covenants — those on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights — he said his office had launched a year-long campaign seeking to bring the Covenants to a broader audience, in particular children and youth. “We live in challenging times, with tensions, conflict, displacement and poverty affecting billions of people around the world,” he said, noting that many were denied their economic, social and cultural rights. The result of that denial was often the root of violence, social unrest and conflict. Warning that that link was frequently overlooked in existing early warning mechanisms, he said that the High Commissioner’s thematic report on early warning and economic, social and cultural rights used concrete exampled to demonstrate the links between those rights and violence, social unrest and conflict. Among other things, the report concluded that violations of the human rights linked to land were among the main causes of violence and conflict in the world.
Outlining some of the risk factors that could predict and help prevent violence, he listed severe inequality, shrinking space for civil society, unequal access to natural resources and the lack of or degradation of social services. Noting that the latter sometimes resulted from the privatization of such services, he said the establishment of social protection floors could help to prevent violence and unrest. The report concluded that the United Nations preventive action would benefit from a system-wide early warning mechanism that would build upon the Human Rights Up Front Initiative. Sharing some of the recent work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights — which could form the basis for such a system — he said the Committee had adopted a Statement on Social Protection Floors and had begun work on individual cases, which would help clarify the scope of the Covenant’s application. Finally, he shared some of the highlights of the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, noting the body had halved its backlog of the review of State party reports and adopted a General Comment on harmful practices jointly with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
The representative of the Russian Federation noted the practice of “loose interpretation” of the obligations in international agreements for Member States. In that context, her delegation did not view itself as being bound to introduce programmes into schools that provided so-called comprehensive sexual education for children and believed that responsibility was borne primarily by families. The Committee on the Rights of the Child had an important goal to assist States in meeting their obligations under the convention and must not go beyond that purview. Her delegation did not agree with the assertion that human rights violations were a key factor behind social tensions and the outbreak of conflict. She cautioned OHCHR against advancing reform-minded initiatives aimed at integrating the human rights aspect into all United Nations activities.
The Council then took note of the Report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth sessions (document E/2016/22).
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
ALVARO POP AC then presented the “Report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on its fifteenth session” (document E/2016/43), saying that indigenous issues were taking on increasing importance, as demonstrated in the most recent proceedings of the Forum, which garnered an impressive number of attendees. Some 1,000 representatives attended the most recent Permanent Forum and more than 70 side events were held. Participants agreed on some landmark issues, including the importance of indigenous peoples’ roles in preserving the planet’s resources, as well as the importance of having those resources for development, coexistence and comfort. Also, the importance of free, prior and informed consent for democracy was emphasized, including with regard to the exploitation of resources. The session also addressed the review of the six areas of the Forum’s mandate
The special theme of the Forum session was “Indigenous Peoples: Conflict, peace and resolution”, he said. The pressing need to strengthen efforts to hold national and regional intercultural dialogues to eradicate racism, discrimination and intolerance was also stressed by many participants. The Forum reiterated its request to the United Nations system to support indigenous peoples and States in creating and implementing national development and action plans. The need to protect indigenous languages was also highlighted. He recalled that there were more than 5,000 indigenous peoples in the world, accounting for more than three million people. In that context, preserving indigenous languages was essential.
The Council then adopted, without a vote, three decisions contained within that report.
Comprehensive Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
The Council briefly turned its attention to the comprehensive implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, with the Vice-President recalling that the body, the Assembly and the Human Rights Council had been mandated to act as a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of, and follow-up to, the Declaration and Programme of Action.