16 May 2016: The advisers of the consultation process with UN Member States and indigenous peoples on ways to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them have released a second draft compilation, as part of an intergovernmental process on enabling indigenous peoples’ participation at the UN. The second draft provides a general overview of responses and proposals on the way forward and includes a discussion paper that summarizes the views with significant support and highlights some points of difference.

The second draft compilation is based on an electronic consultation, existing UN reports on indigenous peoples’ participation in the UN, earlier responses to questionnaires on indigenous peoples, and the first consultative meeting with Member States and indigenous peoples on 11 May.

Many support a distinct indigenous peoples’ category for participation, with many, but not all, supporting a “permanent observer status” for indigenous peoples similar to existing observer entities in the UN General Assembly (UNGA), according to the discussion paper. The paper also notes that some expressed that there should not be a distinct category and objected to the use of the term permanent observer status for indigenous peoples.

Many support indigenous peoples’ participation in all UN bodies, with some mentioning specific entities, agencies and funds, according to the paper. It also recognizes that some do not support participation beyond what is already permitted; others propose indigenous peoples should determine the bodies in which they participate; and one suggested beginning with enhanced participation in only some bodies, such as the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Human Rights Council (HRC). There were many different views on the form that participation should take with respect to speaking rights, rights to circulate written statements, and rights to participate in drafting, among others.

Many supported establishment of a new body to determine eligibility for participation under a new indigenous peoples category, with differing views on who should compose such a body. Many supported flexibility in identification and application of any criteria to determine eligibility for participation under such a category, with some emphasizing objective criteria to define eligibility. The paper summarizes comments on such criteria, such as self-identification, state recognition and shared language, culture and history.

The discussion paper also addresses: provisions for participation on a regional basis, with views expressed both for and against; general agreement that eligibility for a new status should be confined to indigenous peoples’ institutions; strong support for indigenous peoples’ institutions to select their own representatives; and gender balance in selection of representatives. Some said enhanced participation for indigenous peoples should not contribute to cumbersome or unwieldy processes at the UN, according to the paper.

Face-to-face consultations with Member States and indigenous peoples’ representatives, based on the document prepared by the advisers, are scheduled to convene on 18 May 2016, during the 15th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), which is convening from 9-20 May 2016 at UN Headquarters in New York, US. The outcome of the consultations will provide the basis for a draft resolution to be finalized and adopted by the UNGA during its 71st session. [Draft two of the compilation of views on enabling indigenous peoples’ participation in the UN] [Consultative Process Website] [IISD RS Story on First Compilation of Views]