7 March 2016: The advisers for consultations on the participation of indigenous peoples at the UN presented a road map for the consultation process, which begins on 8 March 2016 with an electronic consultation. The advisers encouraged all Member States and indigenous peoples’ representatives to participate.

UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Mogens Lykketoft appointed four advisers for the process, on 25 February 2016. The advisers are: Kai Sauer, Permanent Representative of Finland; Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative of Ghana; James Anaya, indigenous peoples’ representatives for the North American region; and Claire Winfield Ngamihi Charters, indigenous peoples’ representative for the Pacific region.

As presented in the briefing on 7 March by Sauer, the road map of consultations is planned to proceed as follows. From 8 March-8 April 2016, electronic consultations will take place. By 27 April, the advisers will compile the responses, to serve as the basis for the first consultative meetings. During the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues taking place in May 2016 (PFII 15), the advisers will hold two consultative meetings, on 11 May and 18 May, to take advantage of the presence of indigenous peoples’ representatives during the Forum. Between the two consultative meetings, the advisers will update the draft compilation based on the inputs received, to provide a new basis for discussions. Following the issuance of a further updated compilation on 27 May, the advisers plan to hold one final consultative meeting on 28 June for any additional adjustments to the document.

Charters highlighted key elements of the history leading to the present process, including articles of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the outcome document of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), and UNGA resolution 70/232 of December 2015, which requested the UNGA President to establish the consultation process.

Among Member States and indigenous peoples intervening from the floor, Chief Darwin Hill, Indian Law Resource Center, noted that so far in the UN’s history, indigenous peoples can participate only as NGOs, and expressed optimism that the consultation process will eventually mean the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples at the UN. Mexico spoke for the Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples, which also includes: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Spain, Paraguay and Peru. The Group supported efforts to ensure the representation and participation of indigenous peoples from all regions, including regions currently underrepresented in existing UN fora and mechanisms on indigenous issues.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) highlighted its mechanisms for engagement with indigenous peoples, such as the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, its use of Free Prior and Informed Consent, and the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility. He said the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be achieved without indigenous peoples’ leadership on sustainability, resilience, biodiversity, and climate change responses.

The EU encouraged building on existing practices, such as the UN Secretary-General’s report on ways and means of improving participation. Russia said any decisions on the participation of indigenous peoples must be in line with the UN Charter and not undermine the UN’s inter-state nature. China cautioned against NGOs trying to participate under the auspices of indigenous peoples.

Brazil expressed concern about the “tight” timetable for the consultative process, noting that consulting with all of Brazil’s 200 indigenous peoples will not be fast or simple. Other comments pertained to: the need to distinguish between Indigenous Peoples and NGOs; the varying situations for indigenous peoples in different regions; and the need to agree on definitions and eligibility criteria.

In his remarks to the briefing, Lykketoft drew attention to the 3 March murder of Berta Cáceres, an organizer for environmental and indigenous rights in Honduras, which he said showed how perilous life can be for indigenous activists. [IISD RS Sources] [IISD RS Story on Advisers’ Appointment] [UNGA President Statement]