CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

United Nations Human Rights Council,

4th session, March 12 – 30, 2007

Indigenous Peoples from all regions of the world recognize the importance of the Working Groups established by the Council pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 entitled “Human Rights Council.”

One of the greatest contributions to the United Nations system of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations was that Indigenous Peoples without Consultative Status could participate in its sessions, allowing Indigenous Peoples from all regions of the world to advise the United Nations about the state of Indigenous Human rights both directly and through experts’ studies and reports to the Commission.

We again respectfully remind the Council that that Global Caucus of Indigenous Peoples has reaffirmed its support for the work of the Special Rapporteur as well as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, and has also recommended that:

1)      The UN Human Rights Council establish a Permanent Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights made up of two experts from state members of the Council, two Special Rapporteurs and two Indigenous expert members nominated by Indigenous Peoples and selected in a process to be determined by the Council.  All of these experts could rotate among the regions in a 2 – 3 year cycle.

2)      The work of the Permanent Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights would be coordinated by the Human Rights Council in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in accordance with the instructions of the Council.

3)      The Permanent Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights would meet one to three times per year for a period of 5 days in coordination with meetings of the Council and would be organized to provide effective participation and input from states, Indigenous Peoples, UN Special Rapporteurs and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to address a range of human rights issues and concerns.

4)      Its role would be to:

a.       facilitate the exchange of information and updates among participants; 

b.      develop a work plan for the Council to carry out its organization of work regarding its agenda item focusing on the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including recommendations for effective input by organizations with ECOSOC Consultative status, the Special Rapporteurs and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 

c.       facilitate communications between the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and other Special Rapporteurs regarding human rights issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples; 

d.      provide information to the Human Rights Council, OHCHR and its Special Rapporteurs regarding developing situations;

e.       recommend and, when appropriate, assist the Human Rights Council and the OHCHR to organize expert seminars to address and elaborate key relevant themes and areas of concern regarding  Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights; and

f.        Assist the OHCHR in its technical cooperation activities.

5)      Participation of Indigenous Peoples in the Permanent Expert Group on Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights would be on the same basis as participation in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, we look forward to providing our support and assistance to the Council and its members as active participants in this process. 

Thanks you, for all our relations.