Recommendations of the Indigenous Caucus on the establishment of the
Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples in the United Nations system,
Geneva, 12-13 February 2000
 
 
1. The Establishment of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples
The Permanent Forum as called by Indigenous Peoples meetings should be established on a permanent basis in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution 50/157 of l995 and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993.
 
2. Mandate:
Endorse the recommendation of the Chairman/Rapporteur (E/CN.4/AC.47/2000/2) to have the mandate modeled on Article 62 and 63 of the Charter of the United Nations. Furthermore, the Permanent Forum should have, inter alia, the following mandates:
- To promote peace and prosperity in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, by developing friendly relations among Nations and Peoples based on respect for the principle of equal rights;
- To serve as the central forum for the discussion of indigenous peoples’ issues and formulate policy recommendations on those issues addressed to Member States and to the United Nations system;
- To make or initiate studies and reports and make recommendations to the ECOSOC and/or General Assembly on political, economical, civil, social, cultural, educational, health, environmental, developmental and other matters related to Indigenous Peoples;
- To make recommendations to the ECOSOC and/or General Assembly on urgent problems requiring immediate attention with regard to Indigenous Peoples and to develop proposals to give effect to such recommendations;
- To review and coordinate all relevant United Nations plans, programs and instruments in the field of Indigenous Peoples;
- To rationalize, adapt, strengthen and streamline the activities of the United Nations system in the field of Indigenous Peoples;
- To call upon individual experts and establish ad-hoc working groups in specialized fields if and when necessary;
- To call international conferences and prepare draft standards for submission to the ECOSOC and/or General Assembly on matters falling within its competence;
- To provide technical and advisory services for Members of the United Nations and, on request, for the specialized agencies and
- To consult with indigenous peoples’ organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned with matters falling within its competence.
 
3.      Membership and Nomination of the Core Group
a. The Core Group should consist of an equal number of indigenous and governmental representatives selected in accordance with their respective criteria and procedures.
b. The membership of the Forum should reflect the geographical and cultural diversity of the world in an equitable manner.
 
4.      Participation of observers in the Open Assembly
(a) All indigenous peoples’ representatives/organizations should be able to participate as observers in the Permanent Forum irrespective of whether they have Consultative Status with the ECOSOC or not. The Permanent Forum can develop its own Rules of Procedure to establish its relationship with indigenous organizations.
(b) The Permanent Forum should develop relationship with the UN specialized agencies who can participate in the Permanent Forum as observers.
(c) Non-indigenous NGOs with Consultative Status can participate in the Permanent Forum as observers.
(d)   Member States of the UN can participate as observers.
(e) The Permanent Forum should be able to call upon the experts if required.

5.      The placement of the Permanent Forum in the United Nations system
The Permanent Forum should be established at the highest possible level within the UN system, with the level of the ECOSOC as the lowest acceptable level.
 
6.       Voting
 The members of the Core Group should have the right to vote. Decisions should preferably be taken by consensus.

7.      The name of the Forum
Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples.
 
8.      Number of members
The Core Group should consist of 30 members.
 
9.      Rules of procedure
The Permanent Forum shall develop its own rules of procedure.
 
10.     Terms
 The members of the Core Group should be elected for 3 years, with the possibility for reelection for a new term.

11.     Finance:
The Permanent Forum should be funded through the regular budget of the United Nations.
 
A United Nations Fund for the Permanent Forum should be established to assist the functioning and programs of the Permanent Forum including the participation of the observer indigenous representatives.
 
12.     Location of the Permanent Forum and Secretariat
The Permanent Forum should be located in New York. Its Secretariat should be established with key positions staffed by indigenous individuals.