United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

ILO at the Eighteenth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established in 2000 with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. During this year’s session, discussions will be held on “Traditional knowledge: Generation, transmission and protection”.

The ILO, being the institutional host to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) and an active member of the Inter-agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues (IASG) has regularly participated in the UNPFII’s sessions which offer an opportunity for dialogue among indigenous peoples, governments and UN agencies.

The ILO will continue to engage in the Forum’s discussions, highlighting the role of Convention No. 169 in putting in place laws, polices, and institutions at the country-level, which address indigenous peoples’ rights in the context of democracy, good governance and sustainable development for all. This year also marks an important milestone, with the celebration of the ILO centenary and the 30th anniversary of the Convention No. 169.


Statements 

Statement by the International Labour Organization to the 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Item 9: Discussion on the theme “Traditional knowledge: Generation, transmission and protection”)

Statement by the International Labour Organization to the 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Item 11: Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Chair of the Expert Mechanisms on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

Statement by the International Labour Organization to the 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Item 12: Follow-up to the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples)

Inter-Agency Support Group’s statement delivered by the International Labour Organization to the 18th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Side-Events

24 April, United Nations, New York

Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change: Emerging Research on Traditional Knowledge and Livelihoods

In collaboration with the UNFCCC, Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). Launch of a compendium of case studies on emerging research on traditional knowledge, prepared by the ILO in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

Research findings by Mr Rishabh Kumar Dhir (ILO) and Ms Ariell Ahearn (University of Oxford).

Panellists:
  • Mr Ivan Zambrana (Executive Director of the Plurinational Authority of Mother Earth, Bolivia)
  • Ms Joan Carling (Indigenous Peoples’ Major Group for Sustainable Development)
  • Ms Tiffany Hodgson (UNFCCC)
  • Mr Pallab Chakma (Executive Director of Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh)
Moderator:
Mr Martin Oelz (ILO)

13:15 - 14:30 in Conference Room 4 

25 April, United Nations, New York

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169): “Learning and looking ahead”

Keynote speech by Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the General Assembly.

Panellists:
  • Ms Ulla Sarela Holmquist Pachas (Minister of Culture, Peru)
  • Mr Adelfo Regino (Director-General, National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, Mexico)
  • Mr José Osvaldo Zuñiga Pino (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Chile)
  • Mr Guido Ricci (Comité Coordinador de Asociaciones Agrícolas, Comerciales, Industriales y Financieras (CACIF), Guatemala)
  • Ms Tarcila Rivera Zea (Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues)
Moderator:
Ms Carmen Moreno (Director, ILO Sub-Regional Office for Central America)

18:30 - 20:00 in Conference Room 7 

25 April, One UN Plaza, New York

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Development on the Ground: Emerging findings from the Indigenous Navigator initiative

In collaboration with the European Union and the Indigenous Navigator partners.

13:15 - 15:15 in Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza