15th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Theme: ICCAs and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Human Rights
Meeting dates: 9-20 May 2016
Location: New York City, USA

Consortium activities:	Side event on 10 May hosted by ICCA Consortium partner International Land Coalition: “The time is now! Presenting two innovative actions to secure Indigenous Peoples’ land rights” Joint side event on 11 May hosted by ICCA Consortium members Global Forest Coalition and PACOS Trust with the Indigenous Information Network and International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests: “Land and Resource Conflicts, and the Resilience of ICCAs and other Community Conservation Initiatives” Consortium members attended the 11 May dialogue on indigenous peoples’ rights and conservation activities, hosted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Key Policy Outcomes:	Launch of the UN System-wide Action Plan on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Forum invited states to evaluate compliance with UNDRIP on the occasion of its 10-year anniversary, and requested the UN Security Council to take up issues related to Indigenous women Recommendations included to: hold an international expert group meeting on the role of PFII and other indigenous-specific mechanisms in the implementation of UNDRIP; proclaim an International Year of Indigenous Languages by 2020; establish a UN voluntary fund for enhancing participation by Indigenous youth in UN processes; and ensure that Indigenous peoples’ spiritual and cultural sites are protected A key message was the need to combat pervasive violations against indigenous human rights defenders, including criminalisation, persecution, violence, imprisonment and killing
More Information:	Meeting documents UNPFII concept note on indigenous peoples, conflict, peace and resolution UN WebTV press conference on PFII-15 recommendations Final official report: English \| Français \| Español Blog by Jeanette Sequiera and Mrinalini Rai (Global Forest Coalition): “Deliberating Conflict, Peace and Resolution at the 15th Session of the UNPFII”
Contribution to overall strategy:	Under the draft strategy on “ICCAs & Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Human Rights”, the above activities contributed to the objectives of: (1) facilitating more direct participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities in advocacy and communication about rights and responsibilities; (2) better understanding obstacles to and opportunities for improved enforcement of human rights standards at the local level; and (3) recognising Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights in all conservation activities
Direct financial implications for the Consortium:	None – self-funded by Consortium members