30/52 Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on its eighth session, Geneva, 20-24 July 2015
Document Type: Final Report
Date: 2015 Aug
Session: 30th Regular Session (2015 Sep)
Agenda Item: Item5: Human rights bodies and mechanisms, Item3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
GE.15-14057(E)
*1514057*
Human Rights Council Thirtieth session
Agenda item 5
Human rights bodies and mechanisms
Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on its eighth session, Geneva, 20-24 July 2015
Chair-Rapporteur: Alexey Tsykarev
Summary
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held its eighth session
from 20 to 24 July 2015. In addition to members of the Expert Mechanism, the participants
in the session included representatives of States, parliaments, indigenous peoples, United
Nations bodies, programmes and specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations,
national human rights institutions and academic institutions.
The Expert Mechanism discussed follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples, including the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism, and held a panel
discussion on indigenous peoples’ human rights in relation to business enterprises. It
discussed the post-2015 development agenda, before moving to a discussion on the follow-
up to thematic studies and advice.
The Expert Mechanism’s study on the promotion and protection of the rights of
indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage was considered. Discussions on
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples were also held, as well
as a consultation on the United Nations system-wide action plan to ensure a coherent
approach to achieving the ends of the Declaration.
The Expert Mechanism adopted the proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights
Council at its thirtieth session. In particular, it adopted the study on the promotion and
protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage, and the
report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire seeking the views of States and
indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures and
implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Contents
Page
I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
II. Adoption of studies, reports and proposals. ..................................................................................... 3
A. Adoption of the study on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples
with respect to their cultural heritage ...................................................................................... 3
B. Adoption of the report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire seeking the views
of States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures
and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. ....................................................................................... 3
C. Proposals .................................................................................................................................. 4
III. Organization of the session .............................................................................................................. 6
A. Attendance ............................................................................................................................... 6
B. Documentation ........................................................................................................................ 6
C. Opening of the session ............................................................................................................ 6
D. Election of officers .................................................................................................................. 7
E. Adoption of the agenda ............................................................................................................ 8
IV. Follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, including the review of the mandate
of the Expert Mechanism ................................................................................................................. 8
V. Panel discussion on indigenous peoples’ human rights in relation to business enterprises .............. 10
VI. Post-2015 development agenda and indigenous peoples’ rights ...................................................... 12
VII. Follow-up to thematic studies and advice ........................................................................................ 13
VIII. Study and advice on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples
with respect to their cultural heritage ............................................................................................... 13
IX. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.................................................... 14
X. Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council ................................................................. 16
XI. Consultation on the United Nations system-wide action plan to ensure a coherent approach
to achieving the ends of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ................................ 16
XII. Adoption of reports, studies and proposals ...................................................................................... 17
Annexes
I. List of participants ........................................................................................................................... 18
II. Provisional agenda of the ninth session............................................................................................ 21
I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 6/36, the Human Rights Council established the Expert Mechanism
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a subsidiary body to assist the Council in the
implementation of its mandate by providing it with thematic expertise on the rights of
indigenous peoples, as requested by the Council. In the resolution, the Council established
that the thematic expertise would focus mainly on studies and research-based advice, and
that the Expert Mechanism may suggest proposals to the Council for its consideration and
approval.
II. Adoption of studies, reports and proposals
2. The Expert Mechanism adopted its study on the promotion and protection of the
rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage and the report
summarizing the responses to the questionnaire seeking the views of States and indigenous
peoples on best practices with regard to possible appropriate measures and implementation
strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
A. Adoption of the study on the promotion and protection of the rights of
indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage
3. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
(a) Refers to paragraph 5 of Human Rights Council resolution 27/13, in which
the Council requested the Expert Mechanism to prepare a study on the promotion and
protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage,
including through their participation in political and public life, and to present it to the
Council at its thirtieth session;
(b) Adopts the study on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous
peoples with respect to their cultural heritage (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/2);
(c) Authorizes the Chair-Rapporteur, in consultation with the other members of
the Expert Mechanism, to make the necessary revisions to the study in the light of
discussions carried out at its eighth session and to submit the final study to the Human
Rights Council at its thirtieth session.
B. Adoption of the report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire
seeking the views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices
regarding possible appropriate measures and implementation strategies
to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
4. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
(a) Refers to paragraph 6 of Human Rights Council resolution 27/13, in which
the Council requested the Expert Mechanism to continue to undertake, with the assistance
of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the
questionnaire survey to seek the views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices
regarding possible appropriate measures and implementation strategies in order to attain the
end goals of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with a
view to completing a final summary of responses for presentation to the Human Rights
Council at its thirtieth session;
(b) Adopts the updated report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire
seeking the views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible
appropriate measures and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.1);
(c) Authorizes the Chair-Rapporteur, in consultation with the other members of
the Expert Mechanism, to make the necessary revisions to the report in the light of
discussions carried out at its eighth session and to submit the report to the Human Rights
Council at its thirtieth session.
C. Proposals
Proposal 1: Theme of the Expert Mechanism’s next study
5. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proposes to the Human
Rights Council that it authorize the Expert Mechanism to undertake a study on one of the
following themes:
(a) Discrimination facing indigenous peoples in business and access to financial
services, with specific reference to indigenous women entrepreneurs;
(b) The right of indigenous peoples to health, with a focus on children and youth;
(c) The role of indigenous peoples’ organizations and civil society, including
human rights defenders, in the promotion and protection on the rights of indigenous
peoples.
Proposal 2: Half-day panel discussion at the thirty-third session of the Human Rights
Council
6. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proposes to the Human
Rights Council that it organize at its thirty-third session a half-day panel discussion on
violence against indigenous women and girls, bearing in mind the importance attached to
that theme in the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General
Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (see General Assembly
resolution 69/2, paras. 18 and 19).
Proposal 3: Follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
7. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
(a) Proposes to the Human Rights Council that it include the Expert Mechanism
in and take into consideration its views during the review of the mandate of the Expert
Mechanism, taking into account the views of indigenous peoples, as indicated in paragraph
28 of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples;
(b) Urges the Human Rights Council to take measures to ensure that the Expert
Mechanism is provided with additional human and financial resources commensurate with
its new mandate, including for intersessional activities;
(c) Proposes to the Human Rights Council that it urge Member States to
cooperate with indigenous peoples to develop and implement national action plans,
strategies or other measures, where relevant, to achieve the ends of the Declaration, as
indicated in paragraph 7 of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples;
(d) Also proposes to the Human Rights Council that it encourage States to follow
up on paragraph 10 of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples, in which they committed themselves to working with indigenous peoples to
disaggregate data, as appropriate, or conduct surveys and to utilizing holistic indicators of
indigenous peoples’ well-being to address the situation and needs of indigenous peoples
and individuals, in particular older persons, women, youth, children and persons with
disabilities.
Proposal 4: Reporting to the General Assembly
8. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proposes to the Human
Rights Council that it request the Expert Mechanism to report to the General Assembly on a
biennial basis, in addition to its annual reporting to the Council.
Proposal 5: Business and human rights
9. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proposes to the Human
Rights Council that it take measures to include the Expert Mechanism in the Council’s
ongoing initiatives relating to business and human rights.
Proposal 6: Post-2015 development agenda
10. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proposes that the
Human Rights Council urge States to take measures to ensure the participation of
indigenous peoples, in particular indigenous youth, in national processes for the
implementation of the new development goals.
Proposal 7: Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
11. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
(a) Proposes that the Human Rights Council urge States and indigenous peoples
to report on the measures taken to implement the rights enshrined in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, by reporting to the Expert Mechanism on
actions they have taken to implement the commitments listed in the outcome document of
the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, in particular those referred to in paragraph 8,
in which Member States commit themselves to cooperating with indigenous peoples to
develop and implement national action plans, strategies or other measures to achieve the
ends of the Declaration;
(b) Reiterates its proposal that the Human Rights Council review the language
and terminology used in United Nations documents pertaining to the rights of indigenous
peoples with a view to ensuring that they reflect the terminology contained in the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It calls upon the United Nations
and other international organizations to review their spelling rules with a view to using
initial capital letters in spelling the term “indigenous peoples” (see A/HRC/24/49, para. 9);
(c) Proposes that the Council urge Member States to contribute to the United
Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples and acknowledge the work the Fund has
achieved in the 30 years since its establishment.
III. Organization of the session
A. Attendance
12. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples held its eighth session
in Geneva, from 20 to 24 July 2015. The members of the Expert Mechanism — Albert
Kwokwo Barume (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Albert Deterville (Saint Lucia),
International Chief Wilton Littlechild (Canada), Edtami Mansayagan (Philippines) and
Alexey Tsykarev (Russian Federation) — took part in the session.
13. The participants in the eighth session of the Expert Mechanism included
representatives of Member States, parliaments, indigenous peoples, United Nations
programmes, bodies and specialized agencies, national human rights institutions, non-
governmental organizations and academic institutions (see annex I).
14. Also participating in the session were Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the Special Rapporteur
on the rights of indigenous peoples, Megan Davis, the Chair of the Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues, Claire Charters, a member of the Board of Trustees of the United
Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples, and Francisco Calí Tzay, the Chair of the
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Assistant Secretary-General
for Economic Development participated in the sessions on agenda item 3: Follow-up to the
World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, including the review of the mandate of the
Expert Mechanism.
B. Documentation
15. The Expert Mechanism had before it the provisional agenda and annotations thereto
(A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/1 and Add.1), as prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the study on the promotion and protection
of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage.
16. The Expert Mechanism also had before it the following conference room papers: the
updated draft report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire seeking the views of
States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures
and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.1); the report of the open-ended
meeting of indigenous peoples on the follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.2); the submission from the monitoring mechanism
regarding the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.3); the
compilation of calls to action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of
Canada relating to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.4); and the update on the first World Indigenous Peoples’
Games (A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.5).
C. Opening of the session
17. Mr. Deterville, the outgoing Chair-Rapporteur of the Expert Mechanism, opened the
eighth session of the Expert Mechanism and welcomed the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights and the President of the Human Rights Council.
18. The High Commissioner for Human Rights welcomed all participants and
highlighted some key recent and future events that would have a significant bearing on the
rights of indigenous peoples, including the Special Summit on Sustainable Development.
Several challenges affected indigenous peoples, including the denial of their right to self-
determination, discrimination in education and access to justice and exclusion from public
life, all of which led to chronic marginalization. Extractive industries and industrial-scale
agriculture had led to violations of indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, their right to a
clean environment, and free, prior and informed consent.
19. The High Commissioner reminded participants of the commitments made by States
at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, highlighting some positive developments,
such as the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, but noting that
few States had followed up on the commitment to develop action plans to implement the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He cited examples of his Office’s work in
advancing the rights of indigenous peoples, focusing on capacity-building, protection and
support for activists defending the rights of indigenous peoples. He closed by referring to
the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism, emphasizing that the review must be
coupled with a commitment to follow up on recommendations, together with indigenous
peoples.
20. In his opening statement, the President of the Human Rights Council recognized the
work of the Expert Mechanism and noted that its studies and advice had been well received
by the Council and had contributed positively to the efforts to further the protection of the
rights of indigenous peoples. He was grateful to the Expert Mechanism for the study to be
presented at the current session. The Council attached great importance to the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including within the framework
of the universal periodic review. Emphasizing that the Council was ready to undertake the
review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism, as requested in the outcome document of
the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, he hoped that the process would result in a
more robust mandate for the Expert Mechanism. He also emphasized the importance of
indigenous peoples’ participation in relevant United Nations processes and forums.
D. Election of officers
21. Mr. Deterville invited the members of the Expert Mechanism to nominate a Chair-
Rapporteur and Vice-Chair-Rapporteur for its eighth session. Mr. Barume nominated
Mr. Tsykarev as Chair-Rapporteur, and International Chief Littlechild and Mr. Deterville as
Vice-Chairs-Rapporteurs. All three were then appointed by acclamation.
22. The Chair-Rapporteur, Mr. Tsykarev, thanked the other members of the Expert
Mechanism for his election. He welcomed the new member of the Expert Mechanism,
Mr. Barume.
23. The Chair-Rapporteur highlighted the work of the Expert Mechanism since the last
session. That had included the study on the promotion and protection of the rights of
indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage. The study was informed by an
expert seminar jointly organized by the University of Lapland (Finland) and OHCHR. The
Chair-Rapporteur discussed the Expert Mechanism’s work on the questionnaire seeking the
views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate
measures and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
24. The Chair-Rapporteur then outlined the Expert Mechanism’s activities during the
year, including its participation in the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and in the
fourteenth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He drew
attention to the Expert Mechanism’s first intersessional meeting, which had been held at the
Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Canada in March 2015, and thanked the
Government of Canada for its support for that initiative. He provided an overview of the
agenda of the session and invited participants to contribute actively to the deliberations.
E. Adoption of the agenda
25. The Expert Mechanism adopted the agenda and annotations thereto, containing the
programme of work of the eighth session.
IV. Follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, including the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism
26. Mr. Deterville recalled that the General Assembly, in the outcome document of the
World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, invited the Human Rights Council, taking into
account the views of indigenous peoples, to review the mandates of its existing
mechanisms, in particular the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with
a view to modifying and improving the Expert Mechanism so that it could more effectively
promote respect for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including by
better assisting Member States to monitor, evaluate and improve the achievement of the
ends of the Declaration (para. 28).
27. Mr. Deterville presented some preliminary ideas for the review of the mandate,
which had been agreed upon by the members of the Expert Mechanism, including the
following:
• The Expert Mechanism should remain a subsidiary body of the Human Rights
Council and maintain some elements of its current mandate, including the provision
of thematic studies;
• The Expert Mechanism should play a stronger role in terms of facilitating the
implementation of the Declaration at the national and international levels. That
should include supporting States in the preparation of national strategies for the
implementation of the Declaration and engaging with the private sector in order to
overcome obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration;
• The Expert Mechanism should have an increased role in facilitating dialogue
between States and indigenous peoples to discuss issues of mutual concern. That
should also include engagement with regional organizations and national human
rights institutions;
• The Expert Mechanism should engage more actively with the universal periodic
review, the special procedures and the human rights treaty bodies. That should
include assisting States to implement recommendations relating to indigenous
peoples issued by those mechanisms and serving as a bridge between indigenous
peoples and the United Nations human rights system;
• The Expert Mechanism should continue to collect and disseminate information on
good practices in the implementation of the Declaration, and issue general
comments regarding the provisions of the Declaration.
28. The Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development reported on follow-up
to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The Secretary-General was developing a
system-wide action plan, in collaboration with indigenous peoples, to ensure a coherent
approach to achieving the ends of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Barriers to implementation did not necessarily relate to lack of coordination within the
United Nations system, but rather to issues such as lack of political will to implement the
rights of indigenous peoples, including land rights; lack of a common understanding of the
key terms in the Declaration and of the meaning and interpretation of the rights contained
therein; and lack of disaggregated data collection.
29. Referring to the commitment of States to consider ways to enable the participation
of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United
Nations bodies on issues affecting them (outcome document, para. 33), he noted that good
practices were currently being reviewed. He recalled that the report of the Secretary-
General on progress made in the implementation of the outcome document (A/70/84)
contained the proposal that the President of the General Assembly could appoint co-
facilitators or advisers, including indigenous representatives, to lead an open-ended
consultation process on indigenous peoples’ participation at the United Nations.
30. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, establishing links
between the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the post-2015 development
agenda, suggested that the operationalization of the outcome document of the World
Conference was critical in ensuring that indigenous peoples were not left behind in the
implementation of the new development goals. Echoing the concerns of many other
participants, the Special Rapporteur stated that formulating national action plans would be
key to implementing the commitments States had made in the outcome document. With
regard to the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism, she noted that there was
broad consensus among many State representatives on enhancing the capacity of the United
Nations mechanisms on indigenous peoples to advise States on the implementation of the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the outcome document of the World
Conference.
31. Representatives of States and indigenous peoples reaffirmed their strong support for
the contribution of the Expert Mechanism in improving the rights of indigenous peoples.
Many representatives supported the call for a strengthened mandate for the Expert
Mechanism to improve further the rights of indigenous peoples. Specific recommendations
included broadening the mandate to include a function to monitor the implementation of the
Declaration that would promote and protect the rights enshrined therein and discourage
violations; preparing reports on the implementation of the Declaration; issuing general
comments and interpretations on the provisions of the Declaration; providing technical
assistance on implementation to States, indigenous peoples, the United Nations system and
the private sector; and collecting and disseminating information on good practices. Many
representatives recommended that any broadening of the mandate should not result in a
duplication of the mandates of either the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous
peoples or the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Securing additional financial
resources for the possible increased role of the Expert Mechanism was also considered
vital.
32. Significant emphasis was placed on States’ commitment to take action to achieve the
ends of the Declaration at the national level, through legal, policy and administrative
measures, particularly national action plans and strategies. Positive examples were
provided, including budgetary reviews Governments had carried out to evaluate the policy,
administrative and legislative changes needed to implement the Declaration, and indigenous
forums that had been established at the national level to monitor implementation.
33. In addition to the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism several
participants commented on other aspects of follow-up to the World Conference, particularly
the participation of indigenous peoples in United Nations processes. Several indigenous
representatives supported the call for a new accreditation procedure to ensure the direct,
meaningful and effective participation of indigenous peoples, based on mutual respect and
partnerships between indigenous peoples and States, in accordance with article 18 of the
Declaration. Participants highlighted the need for selection criteria that differentiated
indigenous peoples from civil society and academics.
34. It was also recommended that the Human Rights Council take up the invitation
contained in the outcome document to consider examining the causes and consequences of
violence against indigenous women and girls, including by holding a panel discussion on
the rights of indigenous women and by encouraging the Secretary-General to issue specific
recommendations for action to address that issue. Some participants highlighted the need to
be cognizant of the multiple forms of discrimination faced by indigenous persons with
disabilities and to ensure that indigenous persons with disabilities were always taken into
consideration by human rights mechanisms.
V. Panel discussion on indigenous peoples’ human rights in relation to business enterprises
35. Mr. Barume opened the panel discussion on indigenous peoples’ rights in relation to
business enterprises by welcoming participants and introducing the panellists. He drew
attention to the Expert Mechanism’s work on that subject, including the follow-up report on
indigenous peoples and the right to participate in decision-making, with a focus on
extractive industries (A/HRC/21/55).
36. The OHCHR Adviser on Business and Human Rights provided an overview of the
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She discussed the historical background
to the Guiding Principles and its key elements: the State’s duty to protect human rights, the
corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and access to remedy for victims. She
provided examples of how both States and enterprises had implemented the Guiding
Principles. She highlighted opportunities for indigenous peoples within that process,
including the use of the framework for advocacy and policy development and indigenous
peoples’ participation in national action plan processes.
37. Pavel Sulyandziga, a member of the Working Group on the issue of human rights
and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, emphasized the importance of
dialogue between all stakeholders: indigenous peoples, businesses and States. He discussed
the work of the Working Group in promoting the effective implementation of the Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights, including through the development of national
action plans, and urged indigenous peoples to use that instrument as a tool for the
protection of their rights at the national and international levels. He also drew attention to
the fact that, in its reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, the
Working Group had addressed the impact of business enterprises on the rights of
indigenous peoples. He emphasized the importance of free, prior and informed consent and
stressed that the implementation of the Guiding Principles should be informed by the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He encouraged
indigenous peoples to participate in the Forum on Business and Human Rights, which
would take place in Geneva from 16 to 18 November 2015. He stressed that the
endorsement of national action plans on business and human rights could lead to national
discussions on human rights violations linked to business and could also become valuable
remedy tools.
38. Agnes Leina, a representative of the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating
Committee, provided a regional perspective from Africa, focusing on potential risks to
indigenous peoples stemming from extractive industries and the Programme for
Infrastructure Development in Africa, supported by the African Development Bank, among
others. She emphasized the fact that, under the current development model in Africa, the
gains from extractive industry and infrastructure development tended to benefit a small
group of investors, while the losses, such as environmental damage, depletion of natural
resources and displacement of communities, were borne by society or the community as a
whole. She highlighted the importance of including all stakeholders when investment
decisions were made, including indigenous peoples, and of creating a climate of dialogue
between all stakeholders.
39. Luis Vittor, a representative of the Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones
Indígenas, also focused on the impact of extractive industries and infrastructure
megaprojects on the rights of indigenous peoples. Using two case studies from Latin
America, he illustrated how extractive industries could negatively impact the rights of
indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, their right to health, cultural
rights and the right to determine their own priorities for development. He pointed out that
one of the main challenges faced by indigenous peoples with regard to extractive industries
was access to remedy. He emphasized that, while there were useful instruments, such as the
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, the implementation gap remained enormous, which was having dire
consequences for indigenous peoples.
40. Famark Hlawnching, the Chair of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, presented a
regional perspective from Asia. He stressed the importance of free, prior and informed
consent, a principle that was often violated by business enterprises. He illustrated with
examples how infrastructure and extractive projects often resulted in forced evictions,
harassment of indigenous human rights defenders, and sometimes in enforced
disappearances or extra-judicial killings. He pointed out that indigenous peoples faced
barriers in access to justice in relation to those situations owing to limited financial
resources, biased judicial systems and limited access to redress mechanisms.
41. Following the panel discussion, participants raised questions regarding possibilities
for indigenous communities to have meaningful dialogue with business corporations and
extractive industries. The panellists indicated that developing mechanisms for
implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights at the national level
could be one of the ways of addressing indigenous peoples’ concerns.
42. Statements from indigenous participants reflected a widespread pattern of human
rights violations against indigenous peoples, raising many of the concerns discussed by the
panellists, such as lack of free, prior and informed consent; lack of access to remedies; and
the negative impact of extractive industries on rights to lands, territories and resources.
They also highlighted the criminalization of protests by indigenous peoples as a growing
concern.
43. In view of the range of violations faced by indigenous peoples, some participants
considered a binding international instrument on business and human rights crucial for
providing remedies for affected communities.
44. Mr. Barume thanked all the panellists and participants for contributing to the
discussion. With specific reference to Africa, he pointed out that the historical and
persistent non-recognition of traditional land rights of African indigenous communities was
a contributing factor to indigenous peoples’ particular vulnerability to transnational
corporations and other business enterprises. He indicated that stronger and legally protected
rights of indigenous peoples over their lands were critical to the implementation of free,
prior and informed consent. He drew a parallel with the recent landmark decision by the
Supreme Court of Belize, which had ruled in favour of Maya land rights, affirming
constitutional protection for their ancestral land rights and making explicit reference to the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The ruling had affirmed
that the right to free, prior and informed consent was a fundamental tenet of traditional land
tenure before extractive operations were undertaken on the territory of the Maya
communities.
45. He indicated that national human rights institutions could be play a key role at the
national level in the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights. He emphasized the need to engage chambers of commerce as relevant stakeholders
at the national level during discussions about business enterprises and human rights.
46. Mr. Tsykarev supported the establishment of national action plans on business and
human rights, which should include legislative efforts, codification and systematization of
national laws linked to indigenous peoples and business enterprises. Those efforts would
also facilitate the harmonization of legislation at all levels. He underlined the connections
between the cultural rights of indigenous peoples and the influence of industries, which was
highlighted in the study of the Expert Mechanism on the promotion and protection of the
rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage. He proposed making use
of the capacity of the Expert Mechanism to facilitate a sustainable process of consultation
between indigenous peoples, governments and businesses. He suggested organizing a side
event at the forthcoming Forum on Business and Human Rights on indigenous peoples’
human rights and business enterprises.
VI. Post-2015 development agenda and indigenous peoples’ rights
47. Mr. Mansayagan, opening the discussion, pointed out some of the gaps in the post-
2015 development goals from the perspective of indigenous peoples. He stated that the
post-2015 development agenda would constitute the international community’s road map
for development in the forthcoming years. Referring to the conclusion of the panel
discussion during the seventh session of the Expert Mechanism, he outlined some key
elements, such as the need to fully integrate indigenous peoples’ perspectives into the post-
2015 development agenda; the need for indicators of well-being and sustainability instead
of purely economic indicators; and the need to recognize the right to free, prior and
informed consent. He highlighted the fact that, following a proposal from the Expert
Mechanism, the Human Rights Council had encouraged States to give due consideration to
all the rights of indigenous peoples in the process of the elaboration of the post-2015
development agenda and to take measures to ensure the participation of indigenous peoples,
and in particular indigenous youth, in national processes for the implementation of the new
development goals (Council resolution 27/13, para. 15). He expressed concern at the
absence of references to free, prior and informed consent in the final draft of the goals, and
at the fact that indigenous peoples were grouped together with other vulnerable sectors of
society.
48. Indigenous representatives regretted the fact that their concerns had been
inadequately reflected in the final draft of the sustainable development goals and the fact
that indigenous peoples were explicitly mentioned under only two targets (goal 2 and goal
4). The new development goals must reflect the concerns of indigenous peoples, in line
with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Some participants stated that
national human rights institutions could be instrumental partners in ensuring that
indigenous peoples participated in national-level plans and strategies for the
implementation of the new goals. Participants commended the priority given to
disaggregated data in the post-2015 development goals and stressed the need to include
such data across all relevant indicators and targets of the 17 goals.
VII. Follow-up to thematic studies and advice
49. Mr. Mansayagan recalled the mandate of the Expert Mechanism and listed the
studies and advice it had issued previously. He recalled that the studies and advice were
intended to provide a better understanding of the provisions of the Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to suggest specific action that States, indigenous peoples,
civil society, international organizations, national human rights institutions and others could
take in order to further its implementation. He noted that the studies of the Expert
Mechanism placed special emphasis on the participation of indigenous peoples themselves
in decisions that affected them.
50. A representative of the Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network
acknowledged the usefulness of the previous studies of the Expert Mechanism as guidance
tools for advocacy and policy development. The Network suggested that the Expert
Mechanism consult indigenous persons with disabilities in the development of its future
studies and advice.
51. Mr. Tsykarev urged States to ensure that initiatives that had been identified as good
practices in previous studies of the Expert Mechanism were not weakened. He encouraged
both States and indigenous peoples to use the opportunity afforded by the agenda item to
keep the Expert Mechanism abreast of recent developments regarding the themes of its
previous studies.
VIII. Study and advice on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect to their cultural heritage
52. Mr. Tsykarev expressed his gratitude to the University of Lapland, which had,
jointly with OHCHR, organized an expert seminar on the topic of the study in February
2015. He thanked all the experts who had participated in the seminar for their valuable
contribution to the study and all the States, indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-
governmental organizations and national human rights institutions that had provided
submissions to the study. He gave a detailed overview of the study, focusing on the advice
with respect to cultural heritage that the Expert Mechanism had provided to States,
indigenous peoples, international organizations and museums.
53. The draft of the study was well received by representatives of State and indigenous
peoples. Participants commended the Expert Mechanism for highlighting the holistic and
intergenerational nature of cultural heritage, and emphasizing the links between cultural
heritage and lands, territories and resources. Indigenous representatives also welcomed the
emphasis placed on free, prior and informed consent in relation to cultural and natural
heritage. Given the alarming pace at which indigenous languages were being lost, several
participants drew attention to the need to preserve and promote indigenous languages
through effective mother tongue education programmes. Participants also requested the
Expert Mechanism to pay special attention to the need to revitalize the customary practices
and traditional governance systems of indigenous peoples.
54. Many participants highlighted the fact that, in paragraph 27 of the outcome
document of the World Conference, States committed themselves to developing fair,
transparent and effective mechanisms for access to and repatriation of ceremonial objects
and human remains. During the discussion, indigenous representatives discussed several
cases in which they had been unable to recover ceremonial objects, human remains and
other articles related to their heritage from museums, collectors and other repositories.
55. Representatives of States recognized the importance of revitalizing and preserving
the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples and discussed many ongoing measures in their
respective countries. They highlighted specific legislative measures, support for education
in native/mother tongues, the establishment of institutions for promoting indigenous
cultures, budget allocations for the preservation of indigenous art and culture, along with
research and studies on the contribution of indigenous cultural heritage to mainstream
society. Similarly, national human rights institutions shared some exemplary action they
had taken to protect and promote indigenous peoples’ right to cultural heritage.
56. Mr. Barume remarked that Convention concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) had huge potential to strengthen the protection of indigenous
peoples’ rights. However, in order for that to be put into practice, UNESCO and its World
Heritage Committee must align their policies and programmes with the international human
rights standards relating to indigenous peoples, including regional and national instruments.
He regretted the fact that the World Heritage Committee had declared World Heritage Sites
in many parts of the world in a manner that did not respect international standards that
safeguarded indigenous peoples’ rights, particularly the principle of free, prior and
informed consent. To address that gap, he called upon UNESCO, the World Heritage
Committee and other relevant organizations to strengthen their knowledge on indigenous
peoples’ rights through training and awareness-raising activities. He also called upon
Member States to evaluate and recognize the contribution that indigenous peoples’ cultural
heritage made to national economies.
IX. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
57. International Chief Littlechild provided an overview of the Expert Mechanism’s
work in the area of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
including a review of the final summary of the responses to the questionnaire seeking the
views of States and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate
measures and implementation strategies to attain the goals of the Declaration. He thanked
the staff of the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba for their assistance in
preparing the summary of the responses, and all the States and indigenous peoples who had
responded. He referred to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples as a significant step
forward for the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples. He reminded States that the
outcome document of the World Conference was a reaffirmation of their support for the
Declaration and the commitments made therein.
58. Claire Charters, a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary
Fund for Indigenous Peoples, delivered a statement on behalf of the Board. She welcomed
the thirty-two beneficiaries of the Fund present at the session and thanked the Member
States that had contributed to the Fund. She highlighted the fact that 2015 marked the
thirtieth anniversary of the Fund and that over the course of the 30 years, the Fund had
supported the participation of 2,000 representatives at United Nations meetings. She
pointed out the achievements of the beneficiaries of the Voluntary Fund and provided an
overview of the Board of Trustees’ activities in 2014-2015. She concluded by encouraging
all Governments to consider supporting the work of the Fund.
59. Many participants noted that, while there had been significant progress, indigenous
peoples remained among the most marginalized groups in many parts of the world. The
systematic violation of the rights enshrined in the Declaration was ongoing and pervasive.
A variety of obstacles and barriers to the implementation of the Declaration were identified
by participants. They included the lack of political will and financial resources to
implement indigenous peoples’ rights, misunderstandings regarding key terms in the
Declaration, inconsistencies between State legislation and the Declaration, “rights
ritualism” on the part of some States, a lack of awareness and a lack of capacity among
relevant sectors of society. Furthermore, the refusal to recognize the status of some
indigenous peoples had led to systematic violations of their human rights, in particular
rights to lands, territories and resources, identity, culture and self-determination.
60. In addition, participants identified an urgent need for States to intensify their efforts
to achieve the ends of the Declaration and implement the rights contained therein, including
the principle of free, prior and informed consent; lands, territories and resources rights;
treaty rights; self-determination; cultural rights; and the right to participate in decision-
making.
61. It was emphasized that, in order to halt violations of the human rights of indigenous
peoples and achieve the ends of the Declaration, the outcome document of the World
Conference on Indigenous Peoples should be used as a guide for action and the realization
of the rights of indigenous peoples. Importantly, it was noted that through the adoption of
the outcome document, specifically paragraphs 3 and 4, States reaffirmed their solemn
commitment to the rights contained in the Declaration.
62. Megan Davis, the Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, highlighted
forthcoming events and processes which would impact indigenous peoples and the
implementation of the Declaration. They included: deliberations concerning the post-2015
development goals; the third International Conference on Financing for Development; the
twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change; negotiations at the World Intellectual Property
Organization concerning traditional cultural expressions and traditional knowledge; the
revision of the World Bank social and economic safeguards; and, of particular relevance in
the light of the Expert Mechanism’s recent study on cultural heritage, the World Heritage
Committee’s review of its operational guidelines on the nomination of World Heritage
Sites.
63. On the issue of the involvement of indigenous peoples in such events, many
participants advocated for the creation of a specific accreditation system for indigenous
peoples’ governing institutions. Participants stated that a unique accreditation mechanism
would work to implement the right of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making,
and recognize the unique status of indigenous peoples’ governing institutions. The
mechanism should be governed by flexible modalities that took into account the unique
circumstances of indigenous peoples globally.
64. Many participants emphasized that States should create national action plans for the
achievement of the ends of the Declaration in partnership with indigenous peoples and
consistent with the rights of the Declaration. The national action plans should incorporate
awareness-raising programmes to promote widespread understanding of the Declaration,
including through the media. It was also recommended that the universal periodic review
should require States to report on the arrangements for national action plans and other
measures to implement the Declaration.
65. Many participants noted that regional and national human rights institutions played
an important role in the monitoring, protection and implementation of the rights of
indigenous peoples. There was one example of indigenous peoples themselves taking steps
at the national level to monitor the implementation of the Declaration. The Monitoring
Mechanism of the National Iwi Chairs Forum from New Zealand/Aotearoa, which made its
inaugural statement at the eighth session of the Expert Mechanism, provided a report on the
implementation of the Declaration in New Zealand/Aotearoa
(A/HRC/EMRIP/2015/CRP.3).
66. Many participants emphasized that increasing international tourism had often led to
the violations of the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources,
sacred sites and cultural locations, the right to self-determination and the right to determine
their own development. Similarly, many participants discussed the negative effects of
militarization, particularly acts of violence against and extra-judicial killings of indigenous
peoples and the violations of their rights relating to traditional lands, territories and
resources. They highlighted how militarization and development often combined to feed
into serious and systematic violations of indigenous peoples’ human rights.
X. Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council
67. The Chair-Rapporteur invited observers to share their recommendations regarding
the Expert Mechanism’s proposals to the Human Rights Council.
68. Some participants provided suggested themes for future studies of the Expert
Mechanism, including links between militarization, development and the rights of
indigenous peoples and a study focusing on mechanisms for redress, remedies, restitution
and repatriation in conformity with articles 11, 27, 28 and 40 of the Declaration. Other
suggested themes included the ways in which national human rights institutions could aid
in the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples; human rights violations
impacting indigenous peoples in the field of tourism; and genocide and indigenous peoples.
69. There were some general proposals, including that the Expert Mechanism, through
the Human Rights Council, should encourage treaty bodies and the Working Group on the
Universal Periodic Review to scrutinize the reports and human rights records of States in
order to address rights ritualism effectively. That should include ensuring that States claims
were systematically compared to the concerns raised by indigenous peoples and civil
society.
70. The Chair-Rapporteur suggested that the Expert Mechanism could examine actions
and policies of financial institutions that had negative impacts on indigenous peoples’
rights.
XI. Consultation on the United Nations system-wide action plan to ensure a coherent approach to achieving the ends of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
71. The eighth session provided the time for a consultation with States and indigenous
peoples on the United Nations system-wide action plan to ensure a coherent approach to
achieving the ends of the Declaration, as called for in paragraph 31 of the outcome
document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The consultation was facilitated
by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in cooperation with the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
72. A number of Member States expressed their support for the development of the
action plan. Indigenous representatives, while also supportive of the development of the
action plan, raised a number of concerns, including the need to catalogue and disseminate
good practices of United Nations entities in relation to indigenous peoples and the need to
address violence against indigenous women. They also stressed the importance of United
Nations entities working more closely with indigenous peoples, consulting them and
identifying specific focal points or offices that work on indigenous peoples’ issues.
73. A number of speakers said that, although the action plan was to be developed within
existing resources, that would constitute a major challenge to its implementation. The
Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples noted that a number of United
Nations entities had already developed specific policies on engagement with indigenous
peoples, as a good practice that other entities could follow. However, she also noted that
there were limited financial and human resources dedicated to indigenous peoples’ issues
within the United Nations system, and those resources were often difficult to measure.
74. The consultation served as a useful forum to clarify the following elements of the
action plan:
• The action plan will focus on a limited number of clearly identifiable actions that the
United Nations system will undertake within the next two years.
• According to the outcome document, the action plan is to be developed within
existing resources. No financial resources have yet been committed to the
implementation of the action plan. A possible element of the action plan may
involve concerted fundraising efforts for projects, programmes and mechanisms that
deal specifically with indigenous peoples.
• There is a general agreement that one of the major obstacles to the implementation
of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a general lack of
awareness of the Declaration among all stakeholders. Consequently, awareness-
raising and advocacy will be an important element of the action plan.
• It is important to ensure coherence between the normative work at headquarters and
the programmatic work at the country level. To this effect, the United Nations
Development Group Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues were adopted on 1
February 2008. Those Guidelines are a valuable tool and the action plan will take
advantage of this as well as other existing mechanisms.
• It is important to strengthen the capacities of indigenous peoples to help ensure the
implementation of the Declaration.
• The action plan should also invigorate efforts to strengthen the capacities of United
Nations staff to work on issues related to indigenous peoples.
XII. Adoption of reports, studies and proposals
75. At the last meeting of its eighth session, the Expert Mechanism adopted its study
and advice on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples with respect
to their cultural heritage, including through their participation in political and public life,
and the report summarizing the responses to the questionnaire seeking the views of States
and indigenous peoples on best practices regarding possible appropriate measures and
implementation strategies to attain the goals of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All proposals were adopted by consensus by the members of
the Expert Mechanism.
76. The members of the Expert Mechanism also adopted the provisional agenda of the
ninth session (see annex II).
Annex I
List of participants
States Members of the United Nations represented by observers
Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State
of), Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand,
Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian
Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian
Republic of).
Non-member State represented by an observer
Holy See
United Nations mandates, mechanisms, bodies, specialized agencies,
funds and programmes represented by observers
International Labour Organization; Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples;
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; United Nations Educational, Cultural and
Scientific Organization; United Nations Population Fund; World Bank; World Intellectual
Property Organization.
Intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations and
mechanisms in the field of human rights represented by observers
Council of Europe; European Union; Fund for the Development of the Indigenous Peoples
of Latin America and the Caribbean.
National and international human rights institutions represented by
observers
Australian Human Rights Commission, International Coordinating Committee of National
Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, New Zealand Human
Rights Commission, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.
Academics and experts on indigenous issues represented by observers
from the following institutions
The City Law School, City University London; L’École des hautes études en sciences
sociales; Leuphana University of Lüneburg; Structural Analysis of Cultural Systems,
Berlin; Te Pūtahi-a-Toi (School of Maori Art, Knowledge and Education), Massey
University; Universidade Federal de São Carlos; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid;
Universidad de Deusto; University of Amsterdam; University of Ottawa.
Non-governmental organizations and indigenous nations, peoples,
organizations and parliamentarians
Africa Culture International (Human Rights); African Commission of Health and Human
Rights Promoters (CAPSDH); Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara; Articulação dos Povos
Indígenas do Brasil; Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact; Assemblée des Arméniens d’Arménie
occidentale; Assembly of First Nations; Association Culturelle ATH Koudia de Kabylie;
Association Culturelle Tamazgha; Association Espoir pour les Batwa; Lawyers’
Association for the Human Rights of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP);
Association of Kolski Saamis; Association of Russian-language indigenous people of
Latvia; (Russian) Association of Small Indigenous Peoples of the North; Association on
American Indian Affairs; Association Oyiwane; Association pour l’Intégration des Peuples
Autochtones; Association Racines; Association Shoria; Bharat Munda Samaj; Bunong
Association for a Good Future; Bureau of Consultation for West Papua Indigenous
Community Development; Cabildo Indígena del Resguardo Kankuamo; Canadian Friends
Service Committee; Centre for First Nations Governance; Centre for Support of Indigenous
Peoples of the North (CSIPN); Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Mapuche; Chippewas
of the Thames First Nation; Comisión de Asuntos Indígenas - Congreso de la Unión de
México; Comisión de Juristas Indígenas en la República Argentina; Communauté des
Potiers du Rwanda; Comunidad Indígena del Pueblo Tupi Guarani “Cacique Hipolito
Yumbay”; Congrès populaire Coutumier Kanak; Consejo de todas las Tierras; Consejo
Indio de Sud America; Consejo Regional Indígena del Tolima (CRIT); Coordinadora de
Organizaciones Indígenas de Amazonia (COICA); Coordinadora Andina de las
Organizaciones Indígenas de la Cuenca del Amazonas (CAOI); Cultura de Solidaridad
Afro-Indígena; Cultural and Development Society; Cultural Survival; Dewan Adat Papua;
Drumbeat Media; Endorois Welfare Council; Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas;
Association Espoir pour les Jeunes Batwa; Federación Indígena Empresarial y
Comunidades Locales de Mexico (CIELO); Federation of American Women’s Clubs
Overseas; Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers); First Nations Summit;
Fundación Paso a Paso; Grand Council of the Crees; Herri-Topa (Rencontre entre les
peuples); Human Rights Advocates; Human Rights Institute; IDU Mishmi Cultural and
Literary Society; Il’laramatak Community Concerns; Ilukim Sustainability Solomon
Islands; Incomindios; Indian Law Resource Center; Indigenous Information Network;
Indigenous Movement; Indigenous Peoples and Nations Coalition; Indigenous Peoples’
Center for Documentation, Research and Information (DOCIP); Indigenous Peoples of
Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC); Indigenous Women and Children Foundation;
Indigenous World Association; International Indian Treaty Council (IITC); International
Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA); Internationale Touarègue; Inter-regional
public movement of Komi Peoples – “Komi Voytyr”; Inuit Circumpolar Council; Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami; Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (The Indigenous People Network of
Malaysia - JOAS); Kapaeeng Foundation; Karbi Human Rights Watch; Kariros; Kera - an
Initiative for Cultural and Ecological Security (KICES); Khmers Kampuchea Krom
Federation; Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment; MADALAH (Making a
Difference and Looking Ahead); Maloca Internationale (MAIN); Massai Experience;
Monitoring Mechanism of the National Iwi Chairs Forum; Movement for the Survival of
the Ogoni People (MOSOP); Movimiento Indígena de Nicaragua; Mujeres Mayas Majawil
Q’ij; Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights; Na Jaqna Conservancy and Community
Forest; National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines (Kalipunan Ng
Katutubong Mamamayan Ng Pilipinas - KATRIBU); National Congress of American
Indians; National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; National Indian Youth Council;
Native American Rights Fund; Nepal Laborious Society Centre; Nepal Thami Society;
Nisga’a Lisims Government; Ochapowace Nation; Organización de Mujeres Guatemaltecas
“Mama Maquin”; Organisation des Nations Autochtones de Guyane; Organizacion Nación
Purhepecha Zapatista Michoacán; Organización de Jóvenes Indígenas de la región Ucayali
(OJIRU); Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia (ONIC); Organizacion Social
Ngäbe-Buglé para el Desarrollo Humano Integral; Pikhumpogan Dlibon Subanen; Porgera
Landowners Association; Programme Intégré pour le Développement du peuple Pygmée au
Kivu (PIDP); Rehoboth Community of Namibia; Réseau de peuples autochtones d’Afrique;
Saami Council; Sami Parliament of Norway; SAMUSA (Network of Indigenous
Organisations in Cameroon); Saniri Alifuru (Alifuru Council); Social Economic and
Governance Promotion Centre; Solidarité pour la Promotion des Femmes Autochtones;
Tebtebba Foundation; Teemashane Community Development Trust; Tehue Manu
Community – Maori Rapa Nui; The Hopi Tribe Nation; Tin Hinane; Union of British
Columbia Indian Chiefs; Unión Wixárika de Centros Ceremoniales de Jalisco, Durango y
Nayarit; Voices for Peace; World Barua Organization; World Uyghur Congress; World
Indigenous Tourism Alliance; Youth Public Movement of Mordovian People.
Annex II
Provisional agenda of the ninth session
1. Election of officers.
2. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work.
3. Follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, including the review of
the mandate of the Expert Mechanism.
4. Panel discussion on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous persons
with disabilities.
5. Human rights of indigenous peoples in relation to business enterprises.
6. Thematic study and advice to be prepared pursuant to the forthcoming resolution of
the Human Rights Council on human rights and indigenous peoples.
7. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
8. Follow-up on thematic studies and advice.
9. Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and
approval.
10. Adoption of the report.