Second International Decade for the World's Indigenous Peoples. More>>
On 20 December 2004 the General Assembly proclaimed a second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which commenced on 1 January 2005.
Chapter on the Environment in the Program of Action
“57. The following recommendations are made for States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations.
58. It is recommended that the indigenous-related elements of the programme of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, especially on fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources, should be considered as part of the Programme of Action for the Decade, and in particular sustainable development and the protection of traditional knowledge should remain urgent priorities regarding the world’s indigenous peoples.
59. Climate change and other stressors, in particular pollutants and the ecologically unsustainable use of natural resources, present a range of challenges for the health, culture and well-being of indigenous peoples, and pose risks to the species and ecosystems that those communities and cultures rely on. It is therefore essential to:
(a) Work closely with indigenous and local communities to help them to adapt to and manage the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change and other stressors;
(b) Implement, as appropriate, sustainable and adaptive management strategies for ecosystems, making use of local and indigenous knowledge and indigenous peoples’ full and effective participation, and review nature conservation and land and resource-use policies and programmes;
(c) Stress the importance of promoting procedures for integrating indigenous and local knowledge into scientific studies, and partnerships among indigenous peoples, local communities and scientists in defining and conducting research and monitoring associated with climate change and other stressors.
60. It is recommended that programmes to strengthen synergies between indigenous knowledge and science should be developed to empower indigenous peoples in processes of biodiversity governance and assessment of impacts on territories, as part of the intersectoral project of UNESCO on Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
61. The Akwe: Kon Guidelines for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact assessments regarding developments proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites on lands and waters traditionally occupied and used by indigenous and local communities, must be taken into consideration and implemented in programmes and projects carried out during the Decade.
62. It is recommended that programmes and projects planned on traditional indigenous territories or otherwise affecting the situation of indigenous peoples should foresee and respect the full and meaningful participation of indigenous peoples.
63. It is urged that indigenous persons who promote the protection of the environment should not be persecuted or harassed for their activities.
64. All relevant actors are encouraged to develop and implement programmes and projects for natural disaster management at the national and community levels with indigenous peoples’ full and meaningful participation.” Read the whole Programme of Action
