A/HRC/4/77
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areas: State responsibility; information sharing; and the role of international organizations and
United Nations agencies in addressing the nexus between indigenous peoples and migration.
The recommendations addressed the need to recognize the broad impact on society of the
migration of indigenous peoples, including positive as well as negative effects, and the urgency
of strengthening the implementation of existing laws to protect indigenous migrants.
43.
On 15 May 2006, the Programme of Action of the Second International Decade of the
World’s Indigenous People was launched in New York. The objectives of the Decade include
the promotion of indigenous peoples in the design, implementation and evaluation of
international, regional and national processes regarding laws, policies, resources, programmes
and projects, as well as their full and effective participation in decisions which directly or
indirectly affect their lifestyles, traditional lands and territories and their cultural integrity,
considering the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Among the recommendations of
the Programme of Action relating to human rights, it is proposed that a global mechanism be
established to monitor the situation of indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation or in danger of
extinction; that human rights treaty monitoring bodies and thematic and country-specific
mechanisms continue to address indigenous issues within their mandates; that educational
programmes on the human rights of indigenous peoples be developed and strengthened,
including the current Indigenous Fellowship Programme of OHCHR, in indigenous languages
where possible, including relevant training materials that are culturally appropriate and should
advocate against stereotypes and ethnic stigmatization; and that cooperation be developed with
the Working Group on the Rights of Indigenous Populations/Communities in Africa of the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, with a view to enhancing the
understanding of indigenous issues in Africa.
X. CONCLUSIONS
44.
A review of the Treaty Bodies and special procedures suggests that indigenous
issues are largely integrated into their work. This may be attributed to a number of factors
that include the greater visibility, sensitivity and interest of these mechanisms brought
about by the discussions on the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous
peoples, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms of indigenous peoples, the presence throughout much of the year of indigenous
persons within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) through
the Indigenous Fellowship Programme, and the building of human rights capacity over
many years that have stimulated interest by indigenous organizations in using human
rights mechanisms. As indicated in the report, activities relating to indigenous peoples are
increasingly included in OHCHR country programmes.
45.
OHCHR is active in inter-agency cooperation to mainstream indigenous issues into
programmes and projects. The invitation by the United Nations Development Group to the
Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues to prepare guidelines on indigenous
peoples, as well as a workplan for country-level activities will signal further integration of
indigenous issues into the work of the United Nations. The pilot indigenous component of
the joint OHCHR/UNDP Human Rights Strengthening programme was successfully
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