During the Fifth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), held between 15 – 26 May 2006 at the UN Headquarters, UNPO Member representatives across the world gathered in New York to exchange views and raise issues and concerns related to their respective situations, as well as study and engage with various relevant UN mechanisms. Several UNPO Members have so far addressed the expert forum through oral interventions, and a number of side-events have been organised to focus on particular Member situations.
As part of the Effective Participation Programme, UNPO, in cooperation with UNPO Advisor and Director of the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights, Mr. Joshua Cooper, set up a series of training and briefing sessions to coincide with the two weeks of the UNPFII. The sessions held were well-attended, and a large spectrum of UNPO Members was present and actively participating. The initial training, held Monday 15 May, was intended to provide an introduction to the Permanent Forum; its background, purpose and workings, to inform and facilitate useful participation in particular for those attending the UNPFII for the first time.
On Thursday 18 May, the training session placed special emphasis on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set of eight specified objectives to be achieved by 2010 and which have constituted a central part of the agenda discussed at both the Fourth and Fifth session of the UNPFII. From the viewpoint of many indigenous peoples, questions have been raised concerning several aspects of the MDGs, including its definition of poverty, and the lack of involvement of indigenous peoples in the process leading up to the determination and formulation of the MDGs. During the session, Mr. Cooper also drew particular attention to the various UN specialized agencies and treaty bodies, providing advice as how to most effectively utilize such.
The third UNPO gathering, on Monday 22 May, focused on the topical question of UN reform and its main human rights body; the transition from the former Commission on Human Rights to the new Human Rights Council. With the latter due to assemble for the first time on 19 June 2006, the training session outlined key elements of the novel human rights body, how it differs from the Commission, as well as possible strengths and weaknesses. Whereas it has yet to prove its merits, the Council will undoubtedly constitute a key forum in which to raise and seek to address human rights violations worldwide. Monday's session engaged UNPO Members and other participants in the question and carried an overall expression of hope that this body may eventually signify a strong third pillar in the UN system; firmly placing Human Rights alongside Development and Security.
From New York, Maria Skeie for UNPO