UNIPP Statement to the 13th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Sharing perspectives and best practices on the rights of indigenous peoples

The UN Indigenous Peoples Partnership (UNIPP) calls for the full and effective participation of all indigenous peoples at the World Conference

Statement | UN General Assembly Hall, New York | 19 May 2014
13th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Agenda item 6: Discussion on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

Statement delivered by
Prof. Angela Riley, Co-Chair, Policy Board, United Nations Indigenous Peoples Partnership

Madam Chair,
Distinguished members of the Forum,
Indigenous representatives,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen

I have the honour to address the Forum in my capacity as Co-Chair of the Policy Board of the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Partnership (UNIPP).

Launched during the 10th Session of the UNPFII in May 2011, UNIPP is a global inter-agency collaboration between the ILO, OHCHR, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA. It supports efforts towards the realisation of indigenous peoples’ rights as recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). Major focus of UNIPP’s work is building the capacities of governments and indigenous peoples for establishing consultative and participatory processes at the country level.

Overseen by a Policy Board that includes five indigenous members, one of them as Co-Chair, UNIPP currently implements joint country-based projects in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Nepal and one regional project in Southeast Asia.

Following the Global Indigenous Preparatory Conference held in Alta, Norway, in June 2013, UNIPP partners have taken note of the four themes identified in the Alta outcome document. UNIPP is also pleased to have been engaged in the preparations of the 2014 World Conference, including the indigenous peoples' preparatory meetings and other preparatory processes on indigenous peoples in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

In Asia, UNIPP supported the Asia Preparatory Meeting for World Conference from 8-9 November 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, which was attended by over 50 indigenous participants representing indigenous peoples’ organizations from 13 countries in the region. The meeting was hosted by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation, along with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). UNIPP also participated in the open-ended meeting on side events to be held prior to and during the WCIP in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 5 to 6 February 2014.

In conjunction with a field monitoring visit to Managua, UNIPP and its partners participated in the Latin America Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Conference held from 12-13 February, along with over 50 indigenous leaders from across the region.

In Africa, UNIPP provided technical support to the country’s hosting of the pre-meeting session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues, held in Brazzaville in March 2013 and attended the third International Forum on Indigenous Peoples of Central Africa (FIPAC 3) where the World Conference was also a highlight of the discussion.

Madam Chair, distinguished members of the Forum,

The Partnership’s latest publication- UNIPP Success Stories: cooperating to promote and protect indigenous peoples’ rights - which we launch today provides an excellent insight into UNIPP’s work. It is indeed illustrative of what the Partnership has achieved since the start of project implementation two and a half years ago.

Given that the objective of the World Conference is to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, including pursuing the objectives of the UNDRIP, UNIPP looks forward to participating in the World Conference with a view to sharing its practical experiences and lessons learned as a contribution towards an action-orineted outcome.

Finally, as UNIPP is based both on the spirit of consultation and participation and the combined expertise and experience of its partners, UNIPP would like to reiterate its full support to the Conference and call for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples.