The seventh session of the Permanent Forum on indigenous, to be held in New York from 21 April- 2 May 2008: The theme for the 7th Session will be “Climate change, biocultural diversity, and livelihood: Stewardship role of Indigenous People and New Challenges.” More>>
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Special Rapporteur in Kenya The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, visited Kenya from 4 to 14 December 2006. The visit involved meetings with various state actors, none state actors, development partners as well as field visits to specific sites where indigenous communities live. His report will be finalized end of January 2007.and will include his observations, conclusions and recommendations to be circulated to the Human Rights Council, to the Kenyan Government and to indigenous communities in Kenya. Read more on the Special Rapporteur’s mission>>
International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples 9 August 2006 - In 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples should be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples (Resolution 49/214 of 23 December). The date marks the day of the first meeting, , of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in 1982.
Various world leaders and UN agencies sent out a special message to celebrate the great contribution Indigenous Peoples make to our World’s heritage.
Joint Message of Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples [English], [Français], [Español]
International Forum for Indigenous People of Central Africa - Communique On the initiative of the government of the Republic of Congo and with the technical and financial support of WWF/ World Bank Alliance, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), UNICEF, UNEP, WHO, FAO, WWF, IUCN and the national forestry private sector a Forum for Indigenous people of Central Africa held at Impfondo from 10 – 15 April, 2007 on the theme: « Implicating indigenous people in the sustainable management and conservation of the forest ecosystems of Central Africa
World Social Forum (WSF) The seventh edition of the World Social Forum was held in Nairobi from 20-25 January. Indigenous peoples participated in the program- ranging from panels, workshops, symposia, film nights, processions and more.
Second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol The second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, in conjunction with the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) was convened from 6-17 November in Nairobi, Kenya.
Indigenous peoples participated in various side events- as panelists and as active spectators. A meeting between an international forum of indigenous peoples and the Major Groups and Stakeholder Branch on the issue of climate change was held 16 November.
Training on Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling and Participatory GIS With financial and technical assistance from the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (CTA), the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), the Gaia Foundation/ABN and the NGO ERMIS Africa organized training on Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling (P3DM) and PGIS Practice in Nakuru, Kenya from 9 to 21 August 2006 that was visited by UNEP staff.
The exercise was part and parcel of the on-going struggle of the Ogiek Indigenous Peoples for the recognition of their ancestral territorial rights. Mapping is considered as a crucial step in securing and planning for the management of territories, cultures and natural resources of local communities which are otherwise put under increasing pressure by globalization, higher economic forces and top-down land distribution.
Read more about the Training on the websites of ERMIS Africa. A report of the
Mapping exercise in Nakuru will soon be posted here.
With financial and technical assistance from the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (CTA), the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC), the Gaia Foundation/ABN and the NGO ERMIS Africa organized training on Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling (P3DM) and PGIS Practice in Nakuru, Kenya from 9 to 21 August 2006 that was visited by UNEP staff.