View source for United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

{{Short description|UN coordinating body}}
{{Infobox United Nations
| image         = Emblem of the United Nations.svg
| image_size    = 120px
| name         = United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
| map        = United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Logo.png
| map_size   = 150px
| map_caption      = 
| type         = [[Intergovernmental organization]], [[Regulatory body]], [[Advisory board]]
| abbreviation     = UNPFII, PFII
| leader_title  = Head
| leader_name         = ''Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues'' <br /> {{flagdeco|Finland}} [[Anne Nuorgam]]
| status       = Active
| formation  = {{start date and age|2000|07|28|df=yes}}
| headquarters = [[New York City|New York]], USA
| website      = [https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2.html PFII on www.un.org]
| parent_organization       = [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]]
| subsidiaries = 
| footnotes    = {{portal-inline|Politics|size=tiny}}
}}
{{Indigenous rights}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}[[File:UNPFII 2015 Plenary.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Plenary meeting of UNPFII (2015)]] 
[[File:UNPFII 2015 - Maria Eugenia Choque.jpg|thumb|right|260px|[[Maria Eugenia Choque Quispe]], a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, speaks at the body's 2015 session.]]
[[File:Descendant of Sitting Bull speaks at UN about fight against Dakota Access and State Violence.webm|thumb|right|260px|Brenda White Bull, descendant of [[Sitting Bull]], speaks at UN about fight against [[Dakota Access Pipeline|Dakota Access]] and State Violence, 25 April 2017.]]

The '''United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues''' ('''UNPFII''' or '''PFII''') is the [[UN]]'s central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and [[collective rights|rights]] of the world's [[indigenous peoples]]. There are more than 370 million indigenous people (also known as native, original, aboriginal and first peoples) in some 70 countries worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=FACTSHEET|url=https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/5session_factsheet1.pdf |publisher=United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues}}</ref>

The forum was created in 2000 as an outcome of the UN's '''International Year for the World's Indigenous People''' in 1993, within the first '''International Decade of the World's Indigenous People''' (1995–2004). It is an advisory body within the framework of the [[United Nations System]] that reports to the [[United Nations|UN]]'s [[United Nations Economic and Social Council|Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC).

== History ==
Resolution 45/164 of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] was adopted on 18 December 1990, proclaiming that 1993 would be the International Year for the World's Indigenous People, "with a view to strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous communities in areas such as human rights, the environment, development, education and health".<ref name=intyear>{{cite web | author=UN General Assembly| title=International Year for the World's Indigenous People, 1993 : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly 14 December 1992, A/RES/47/75| website=Refworld | url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f08ab.html | access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The International Year for the World's Indigenous People | website=Center for International Earth Science Information Network | date=25 November 1992 | url=http://www.ciesin.org/docs/010-000a/Year_Worlds_Indig.html | access-date=24 July 2020 | archive-date=20 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020090210/http://www.ciesin.org/docs/010-000a/Year_Worlds_Indig.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> The year was launched in Australia by Prime Minister [[Paul Keating]]'s memorable [[Redfern speech]] on 10 December 1992, in which he addressed [[Indigenous Australians]]' disadvantage.<ref name=syddict>{{cite web | last=Gilchrist | first=Catie | title=Redfern Park | website=The Dictionary of Sydney | date=24 July 2020 | url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/redfern_park|publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust  | access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>

The creation of the permanent forum was discussed at the 1993 [[World Conference on Human Rights]] in [[Vienna]], Austria. The [[Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action]] recommended that such a forum should be established within the first United Nations International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples.<ref>{{UN doc |docid=A/CONF.157/23 |body= |session= |type= |resolution_number= |title=Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action |date=12 July 1993 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}</ref>

A working group was formed and various other meetings took place that led to the establishment of the permanent forum by [[United Nations Economic and Social Council|Economic and Social Council]] Resolution 2000/22 on 28 July 2000.<ref>{{UN doc |docid=E-RES-2000-22 |body=E |type=R |resolution_number=22 |title=Establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |date=28 July 2000 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}</ref>

==Functions and operation==
It submits recommendations to the Council on issues related to indigenous peoples. It holds a two-week session each year which takes place at the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|United Nations Headquarters]] in New York City but it could also take place in [[Geneva]] or any other place as decided by the forum.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

=== Mandate ===
The mandate of the Forum is to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and [[human rights]]. The forum is to:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2.html |title=Permanent Forum |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |publisher=United Nations |access-date=15 November 2018 }}
</ref><ref name="PFII" />

* Provide expert advice and recommendations to the Economic and Social Council and to the various programmes, funds and agencies of the [[United Nations System]] through the Council;
* [[raising awareness|Raise awareness]] and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system;
* Prepare and disseminate information on these issues.

==Members==
The forum is composed of 16 independent experts, functioning in their personal capacity, who are appointed to three-year terms. At the end of their term, they can be re-elected or re-appointed for one additional term.

Of these 16 members, eight are nominated by the member governments and eight directly nominated by indigenous organizations. Those nominated by the governments are then elected to office by the Economic and Social Council based on the five regional groupings of the United Nations. Whereas those nominated by indigenous organisations are appointed by the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council#President|President of the Economic and Social Council]] and represent the seven socio-cultural regions for broad representation of the world's indigenous peoples.<ref name="PFII">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/about-us/permanent-forum-on-indigenous-issues.html |title=Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |publisher=United Nations |access-date=15 November 2018 }}
</ref>

== Members of the Permanent Forum, January 2020 to December 2022 ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country of Origin
! Member<ref>https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2/newmembers.html retrieved on 11.06.2020</ref>
! Region
! Nominated by
! Notes
|-
| {{FIN|#}}
| [[Anne Nuorgam]]
| Arctic
| Indigenous Peoples' Organisations
| Chair of the Permanent Forum
|-
| {{NPL|#}}
| Phoolman Chaudhary
| Asia
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
| 
|-
| {{TCD|#}}
| [[Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim]] 
| Africa 
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{AUS|#}}
| [[Hannah McGlade]]
| Pacific 
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{COL|#}}
| Darío José Mejía Montalvo 
| Latin America and Caribbean States
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{BOL|#}}
| Simón Freddy Condo Riveros 
| Latin America and Caribbean States
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{USA|#}}
| Geoffrey Roth 
| North America 
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{RUS|#}}
| Aleksei Tsykarev  
| Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia
| Indigenous Peoples' Organizations
|
|-
| {{CHN|#}}
| Zhang Xiaoan
| Asia-Pacific States
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{ECU|#}}
| [[Lourdes Tibán|Lourdes Tibán Guala]]
| Latin America and the Caribbean
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{BDI|#}}
| Vital Bambanze 
| Africa 
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{DNK|#}}
| Tove Søvndahl Gant 
| Western Europe and Other States
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{RUS|#}}
| Grigory Evguenievich Lukiyantsev 
| Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{MEX|#}}
| Irma Pineda Santiago 
| Latin America and the Caribbean
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{NAM|#}}
| Bornface Museke Mate 
| Africa
| Governments
| 
|-
| {{EST|#}}
| Sven-Erik Soosaar 
| Western Europe and Other States
| Governments
| 
|}

== Sessions ==
To date, eighteen sessions have been held, all at UN Headquarters, New York:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2/sessions.html|title=Sessions|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=n.d.|website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs|publisher=United Nations|access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Session 
! Dates
! Theme
|-
| First Session
| 12–24 May 2002
| 
|-
| Second Session
| 11–23 May 2003
| "Indigenous Children and Youth"
|-
| Third Session
| 10–21 May 2004
| "Indigenous Women"
|-
| Fourth Session 
| 16–27 May 2005 
| "Millennium Development Goals and Indigenous Peoples with a focus on Goal 1 to Eradicate Poverty and Extreme Hunger, and Goal 2 to achieve universal primary education"
|-
| Fifth Session
| 15–26 May 2006
| "The Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples: Re-defining the Millennium Development Goals"
|-
| Sixth Session
| 14–25 May 2007
| "Territories, Lands and Natural Resources"
|-
| Seventh Session
| 21 April – 2 May 2008
| "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges"
|-
| Eight Session
| 18–29 May 2009
| 
|-
| Ninth Session
| 19–30 April 2010
| "Indigenous peoples: development with culture and identity articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples"
|-
| Tenth Session
| 16–27 May 2011
| 
|-
| Eleventh Session
| 7–18 May 2012
| "The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)"
|-
| Twelfth Session
| 20–31 May 2013
| 
|-
| Thirteenth Session
| 12–23 May 2014
| "Principles of good governance consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: articles 3 to 6 and 46"
|-
| Fourteenth Session
| 20 April – 1 May 2015
| 
|-
| Fifteenth Session
| 9–20 May 2016
| "Indigenous peoples: conflict, peace and resolution"
|-
| Sixteenth Session
| 24 April – 5 May 2017
| "Tenth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: measures taken to implement the Declaration"
|-
| Seventeenth Session
| 16–27 April 2018
| "Indigenous peoples' collective rights to lands, territories and resources"
|-
|Eighteenth Session
| 22 April – 3 May 2019
| "Traditional knowledge: Generation, transmission and protection"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2/newmembers.html |title=Members of the Permanent Forum |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |publisher=United Nations |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref>
|-
| Nineteenth Session
| 13–24 April 2020
| "Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2.html |title=Permanent Forum &#124; United Nations for Indigenous Peoples |website=www.un.org |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Twentieth Session
| 19–30 April 2021
| "Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16"<ref>{{Cite web |last=United Nations |title=UNPFII Twentieth Session: 19–30 April 2021 |url=https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/unpfii-twentieth-session-19-30-april-2021 |access-date=25 September 2023 |website=United Nations}}</ref>
|-
| Twenty-first Session
| 25 April – 6 May 2022
| "Indigenous peoples, business, autonomy and the human rights principles of due diligence including free, prior and informed consent"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/unpfii-twenty-first-session-25-april-6-may-2022 | title=UNPFII Twenty-First Session: 25 April-6 May 2022 &#124; Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) }}</ref>
|-
| Twenty-second Session
| 17–28 April 2023
| "Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/unpfii-twenty-second-session-17-28-april-2023 | title=UNPFII Twenty-second Session: 17–28 April 2023 &#124; Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) }}</ref>
|-
| Twenty-third Session
| 15–26 April 2024
| "Enhancing Indigenous Peoples' right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous youth"<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNPFII Twenty-third Session: 15–26 April 2024 {{!}} Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) |url=https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/unpfii/23rd-session |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=social.desa.un.org}}</ref>
|}

== Secretariat ==
The Secretariat of the PFII was established by the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] in 2002 with Resolution 57/191.<ref>{{UN doc |docid=A-RES-57-191 |body=A |session=57 |type=R |resolution_number=191 |title=Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues |date=18 December 2002 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}</ref> It is based in the New York within the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/contact-us.html |title=Contact Us |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs |publisher=United Nations |access-date=15 November 2018 }}</ref> The Secretariat, among other things, prepares the annual sessions of the Forum, provides support and assistance to the Forum's members, promotes awareness of indigenous issues within the UN system, governments and the public, and serves as a source of information and a coordination point for indigenous-related efforts.

== International Decade of the World's Indigenous People ==

=== First Decade ===
The first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, "Indigenous People: Partnership in Action" (1995–2004), was proclaimed by [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution|General Assembly resolution]] 48/163 with the main objective of strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous peoples in areas such as human rights, environment, development, health and education.<ref>{{UN doc |docid=A-RES-48-163 |body=A |session=48 |type=R |resolution_number=163 |title=International Decade of the World's Indigenous People |date=21 December 1993 |accessdate=15 November 2018}}</ref>

=== Second Decade ===
The Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, "Partnership for Action and Dignity" (2005–2015), was proclaimed by the General Assembly at its 59th session, and the programme of action was adopted at the 60th session.<ref>{{UN doc |docid=A-RES-59-174 |body=A |session=59 |type=R |resolution_number=174 |title=Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People |date=20 December 2004 |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>

Its objectives are:
* Promoting non-discrimination and [[social inclusion|inclusion]]
* Full and effective participation in [[decision-making]]
* Re-define development policy from a vision of [[social equality]]
* Adopt targeted policies with emphasis on special groups (women, children and youth)
* Develop strong monitoring mechanisms and enhance accountability at all levels to protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

=== Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) ===
On 28 February 2020, 500 participants of a high-level assembly adopted the "Los Pinos Declaration" which concentrates on the indigenous language users' human rights.

== Regional groupings ==
To ensure diversity, members are elected from different regions depending on who nominated them:<ref name="PFII" />

* The [[United Nations Regional Groups]] are used for the eight members nominated by governments and elected by the Economic and Social Council:
**African Group
**Asia-Pacific Group
**Eastern Europe Group
**Latin America and the Caribbean Group
**Western Europe and Other States Group
* The seven socio-cultural regions are used for the eight nominated by indigenous organisations and appointed by the President of the Economic and Social Council:
** Africa
** Asia
** Central and South America and the Caribbean
** The Arctic
** Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia
** North America
** The Pacific
***''Note: Of the eight members nominated by indigenous organizations one must come from each of the seven regions, with  one additional rotating seat among the first three first listed above.''

== See also ==
{{Portal|Politics}}
* [[Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples]]
* [[Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment Initiative]]
* [[International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/LibraryDocuments/partnering-with-ips.pdf Partnering with Indigenous Peoples: Experiences and Practices]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060618055648/http://www.docip.org/Permanent%20Forum/Statements.html Statements during the 2006 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060327122616/http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/history.html History of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues] (2006)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100215113446/http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/SOWIP_web.pdf State of The World's Indigenous Peoples] – UN report, First Issue, 2009
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060327122847/http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/iasg.html Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues] (IASG) (2006)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024342/http://undesadspd.org.dnnmax.com/IndigenousPeoples/LibraryDocuments/Video.aspx  Awareness raising film by Rebecca Sommer for the Secretariat of the UNPFII, 2006]

== External links ==

{{ECOSOC}}
{{Indigenous peoples by continent}}
{{Indigenous rights footer}}
{{Authority control}}

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