UN to focus on development policies

Apr 18, 2010 News

The impacts of development policies on indigenous peoples’ culture and identity will be the focus of a two-week meeting beginning tomorrow at UN Headquarters in New York. Effective participation of indigenous peoples is central to such policies.
Almost 2,000 indigenous participants from all regions of the world will take part in the ninth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to engage with Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Member States, UN agencies and civil society.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will address the opening session of the Forum in the UN General Assembly Hall tomorrow.
The Forum meeting, taking place from tomorrow to April 30, will specifically address Articles 3 and 32 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which guarantee indigenous peoples full and effective participation in development processes, including thorough consultation in the establishment of development programmes and policies.
Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and practices are increasingly being recognised as vital for conservation work and efforts to combat and adapt to climate change.
Yet despite this recognition, indigenous cultures have been damaged more often than not by development policies that ignore their traditional sources of knowledge and cultural priorities and fail to respect their land rights.
Development policies that take into account indigenous peoples’ culture and identity can be beneficial not only to indigenous peoples, but also for Member States and developing countries in particular.
For many indigenous peoples, their way of life and traditional knowledge have developed in tune with the forests on their lands and territories. Unfortunately, forest policies that treat forests as empty lands available for development often force indigenous peoples out of their homes.
In addition, some conservation schemes establish wilderness reserves that deny forest-dwellers their rights. A half-day discussion on these issues will take place on Wednesday, April 28. It is expected that a statement will be adopted for transmittal to the UN Forum on Forests at its next session.
The opening of the exhibit, “Indigenous Peoples and Self-Determination,” and a cultural event will take place on Tuesday, in the Visitors’ Lobby of the United Nations.
The outcome of the Forum’s ninth session is expected to be a report to UN’s Economic and Social Council, which will include draft decisions recommended for adoption by the Council.
The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in July 2000.

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