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Editors --- "1995/30 A permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations system - Digest" [1996] AUIndigLawRpr 2; (1996) 1(1) Australian Indigenous Law Reporter 142

1995/30 A permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations system

Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights,

Bearing in mind Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations in the context of all human rights of indigenous people,

Recalling the recommendations pertaining to indigenous people included in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23) adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, in particular the recommendation that the establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations system should be considered,

Recalling also the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to involve indigenous people and their communities in the United Nations programmes of environment and development as stated in article 22 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and in chapter 26 of Agenda 21,

Recalling further its resolution 1994/28 of 4 March 1994, as well as General Assembly resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994,

Noting the recommendations regarding the possible establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people made by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at its forty-sixth session in resolution 1994/50 of 26 August 1994, and taking into account the comments and suggestions made by participants at the twelfth session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations,

Recognizing the importance of increased incorporation of the values, views and knowledge of indigenous people in relevant aspects of the programmes and activities of the States concerned and of the United Nations system,

Recognizing in particular the importance of involving indigenous people and their organizations in the consideration of the establishment of a permanent forum,

Acknowledging the important role of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in this respect,

1. Endorses the recommendation made by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at its forty-sixth session, that the Centre for Human Rights organize a workshop on the possible establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people with the participation of representatives of Governments, organizations of indigenous people and independent experts;

2. Recommends that such a workshop be held for a period of three days within existing resources and in accordance with established United Nations practice, prior to the thirteenth session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and that the outcome of the workshop be transmitted to the Working Group at its thirteenth session;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Working Group at its thirteenth session the comments and suggestions received from Governments and organizations of indigenous people on the possible establishment of a permanent forum;

4. Requests the Working Group at its thirteenth session to continue to give priority consideration to the possible establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people and to submit its views and suggestions, through the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-second session;

5. Decides to continue to consider the question of a permanent forum at its fifty-second session.

52nd meeting

3 March 1995

[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIX.] l