18 February 2016: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Mogens Lykketoft has appointed four advisers to lead consultations on improving indigenous peoples’ participation in UN bodies. The advisers are two representatives of UN Member States, Kai Sauer (Finland) and Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee (Ghana), and two representatives of indigenous peoples, Claire Winfield Ngamihi Charters (Pacific region) and James Anaya (North America region).

The UNGA called for such consultations in Resolution 70/232 on ‘Rights of Indigenous Peoples,’ which requests the President to investigate possible measures, including procedural and institutional steps and selection criteria, to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them.

Views presented during the consultations, including on current good practices within the UN, are to be compiled by the President and form the basis for a draft text to be finalized and adopted by the Assembly during its 71st session, the Resolution notes.

An informal briefing will take place on 7 March, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, at which the four advisers will present a roadmap on the consultations.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) will hold its 15th session from 9-20 May 2016, on the theme of ‘Indigenous Peoples: Conflict, Peace and Resolution.’ [Letter of UNGA President on Advisers’ Appointment] [A/70/232] [Adoption of 70/232] [Letter of UNGA President on First Consultation Meeting] [Participation of Indigenous Peoples at the UN] [PFII 15]