A/HRC/38/23 9. Mr. Barume said that the Deputy High Commissioner had demonstrated the commitment of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the rights of indigenous peoples. He welcomed all participants, particularly indigenous youth representatives, and recalled that it was the Human Rights Council that had first adopted the Declaration in 2006. He recalled the objectives of the panel discussion and underlined that, although the tenth anniversary of the Declaration should be a celebration, it also represented an opportunity to take stock of progress and challenges over the past 10 years. III. Summary of the proceedings A. Contributions of the panellists 10. Ms. Ángel focused on the work of the Indigenous Youth Network of Latin America, which comprised several indigenous youth organizations from the region. The Network had prepared a report on indigenous youth perspectives 10 years on from the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The report contained analysis of how indigenous youth in the region had used the Declaration to claim their rights, but also shed light on achievements in and challenges for its implementation. 11. In the report, the Network highlighted that there were different definitions and conceptions of youth within indigenous world views, going beyond the usual biological and age-range criteria. Indigenous peoples had traditionally assigned different roles, responsibilities, rights and obligations to their children and youth. The significance of identifying as indigenous youth therefore resided in assuming certain responsibilities within the community, in line with traditions and identities. 12. It was difficult to quantify the number of indigenous youth in the region, as there was a diverse range of conceptions of indigenous youth, influenced by cultural contexts. Some persons might not identify as indigenous in surveys and other data-collection tools, in order to avoid discrimination. Awareness-raising was essential in overcoming discrimination. Reliable social and demographic data were crucial to understanding the situation of indigenous peoples and to developing effective policies to overcome the poverty and marginalization that they often faced. 13. The report also addressed the issue of migration of indigenous youth from their communities to urban areas, mainly in search of better job opportunities. With regard to the tension between migration to urban areas and the tenure of indigenous peoples over their rural territories, youth migration could potentially gradually erode communities’ individual and collective ownership of their lands. In order to address that challenge, better education, health and employment and livelihood opportunities must be created in rural areas. 14. Intercultural bilingual education was an issue of great importance for indigenous youth. Education must truly be based on indigenous culture, rather than simply translating Western educational models into indigenous languages. Indigenous youth could play a key role in developing curricula and content for genuine intercultural education. The lack of an intercultural perspective regarding sexual and reproductive rights was another issue of great concern for indigenous youth, who had identified traditional practices that imperilled the emotional and physical health of girls and young women, such as child marriage. 15. The empowerment of indigenous youth through the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge was vital, particularly given the constant tension between the state of belonging to an indigenous people and the fact of living in an interconnected world. Indigenous culture was not static, but rather constantly changing and recreating itself. The effects of colonization, history and discrimination placed indigenous youth in a difficult position, but they were addressing the challenge of creating their own cultural space, bringing together both their indigenous and global worlds. 16. Ms. General, acknowledging the work of her great grandfather, said that Cayuga Chief Deskaheh had asked the Members of the League of Nations whether they really believed that all peoples were entitled to equal protection under international law. That 3