The 23rd Session Of The UN Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues:
The 23rd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recently commenced in New York, United States.
- UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) was created in 2000 as an advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights.
- According to its mandate, the Permanent Forum will:
- Provide expert advice and recommendations to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through the Council.
- Raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system.
- Prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.
- It is one of three UN bodies that is mandated to deal specifically with Indigenous Peoples’ issues.
- The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- It is comprised of sixteen independent experts, functioning in their personal capacity, who serve for a term of three years as members and may be re-elected or re-appointed for one additional term.
- Eight of the members are nominated by governments and eight are nominated directly by indigenous organisations in their regions.
