Day 5
Friday PM, July 26, 2002
Afternoon Session 3:00 p.m.

Ron Barnes
World Conference Against Racism was a struggle. We attended many events leading up to actual WCAR. We were not able to fully participate in developing language. IPs did not feel like they had adequate ability to create language IPs desired. Even some of the language reduced our ability to discuss self-determination. It seems as though 23 and 24 was difficult. What we need is something here to continue standard setting and see how it is being implemented.

Item 9
Ole Henrik Magga
Mr. Chairman, Indigenous sisters and brothers, states and UN agencies, I take this opportunity to thank you for decade long work to establish the PFII. I am here know for first time as Chair of the PFII. I apologize that I have not been here before and that is due to unfortunate clash between ECOSOC and WGIP. This year, the ECOSOC have reviewed the PF report. The PF asked for secretariat to be established in ECOSOC and meeting held in New York, informal meeting. Of the requests from the PFII, the secretariat is most important because without the secreateria wouldn’t be able to handle the broad mandate. During ECOSOC session, thre was informal conversations between the states under the chairmanship under Sweden. As you know ECOSOC in 2000 also established to review all UN mechanisms and procedures dealing with IPs. It was to promote effectiveness. The question of the future of the WGIP was brought up. Let me use this opportunity for the gratefulness working of Swed! en. When I left ECOSOC, it seemed question for a secretariat was solved although we would like to see more response on the size. The ECOSOC requests the Sec Gen of PFII 1,2,3, and 4. Appoint a secretariat unit in accordance with budget procedure. Create a VF for the PF of resolution. Invites the secretary general. ECOSOC also invites other bodies and Interagency Support Group to assist the forum in carrying out its mandate. The ECOSOC urges to provide contributions. Invites states, organizations and other relevant organizations to take them into consideration when they so decide to take action. ECOSOC accepts three day meeting before the PFII meeting.
I would add that ECOSOC has not decided the size and how the secretariat should be organized. This will be in the 5th committee and the General Assembly. The secretariat issue is not solved. 12 – 23 May 2003 are the dates for the PFII. ECOSOC requests information six weeks before. Sweden as chair of the informal group has been very clear about the future of the WGIP. The question of the secretariat and the WGIP have been kept apart and not prejudged with any outcome.
About the PFII, the activities of the forum have been limited due to the lack of funding and limiting secretariat function. After meeting with HCHR, I hope the secretariat question will be improved. After this meeting what is not in manuscript is we have a gap. PFII does not have a secretariat for well being at all. Either the UN HCHR and its office continue to act on an adhoc basis until permanent secretariat or second object is that unit in ECOSOC would take up function. We hope one of these solutions can be operating.

Miguel Alfonso Martinez
I thank you for your frankness in describing the first step created by this newly established party. I think the information provided would warrant having a brief discussion. We want to benefit fully from your presence here. Floor is open for comments and questions.

Professor E. H. Guisse
I felt that there was something lacking. I was expecting some information on the mandate which I felt didn’t come out. What is the mission, task of the PFII. What is the objective entrusted to this new body? You mentioned preventing overlapping of activities but I do not know what your activities are.

Professor FJ Hampson
I am glad to hear the view of the Chair of the PFII for the next steps of that organization. I find it incredibly depressing that state members of the UN will the ends and not the means. I find the lack of knowledge entirely frustrating. I hope that the best outcome will be achieved but I believe a whole lot will depend on the pressure being to bear by the Chair. Being that international community showed concern by creating it seems interesting that not able to establish a PF. We know where we think we are to go but we are less clear where you are going. Mandate is a skeleton, but what matters is the flesh on the skeleton which is the vision.

Mexico
First of all we share fully what Hampson said. I think we should insist on this. IPs and government should stress that from the ordinary budget of the UN an apportionment established. I would like to know what activities are carried out between now and the next session of the forum. I think we should always remember that the forum itself be subject to review. We have to be very careful because some believe this PF should be abolished now. In any case, we should take this all into account.

Miguel Alftonso Martinez
These funds should not be taken from meager funds from IPs.

Ole Henrik Magga
I apologize not going into details about the mandate and programs of the forum. I thought I was supposed to give the latest developments. PFII is to give expert advice to ECOSOC and to further cooperation between UN agencies. There are also six areas. What are the visions of the forum? I would refer to our report. In many branches, we can continue the work already done in many parts of the UN system. The Sami Council have been working for many years. We need to chart what has already been done and where is the need for forum to engage itself. There are resources for the forum to build on strategies. So far, we don’t even have resources to communicate with other members. We haven’t had the opportunity to discuss much.
Activities I could not promise of any activities. To my knowledge there are only resources for the next session. Even to come here, I had Sami Council to help. This is the situation for the PFII. It is just starting up. It is a lack of logic if UN est! ablish the PF but doesn’t provide a secretariat. Even if President ECOSOC said so. On the other hand, I see the establishment is an important step. With the help of organizations and UN bodies, I am sure we will step by step strengthen our position and have resources. I hope next time we can meet I can provide more information on the forum. I would be happy to come back to discuss thoroughly.

Miguel Alfonso Martinez
I am sorry PFII did not comment on logical concern that any opportionment be from the meager funds of the UNWGIP. I am sorry he did not comment.

Deputy Secretary for the Voluntary Fund UNVF for IPs
The Gen Assembly established VF 1985. GA established a board of trustees for forms and giving grants.. 78 travel grants for IPs travel grants. List of beneficiaries. I would like to thank donors to allow 119 travel grants this year. Appeal to all governments to consider contributing to the funds. Taking into considerations amount to 600 admissable application to go to PFII, WGDDRIP and WGIP. The fund will need $800,000 before its next session. The Sec Gen will also report on the fund with the biannual report.

FJ Hampson
Board encourages indigenous to consider gender balance. Also board considers to nominate young people. It is clear what the gender balance is. Would it be clear for youth.

Miguel Alfonso Martinez
The VFIP had some changes that allowed for representatives of IPs for activities in this WG but also in other activities. I would like to know what other activities and to what extent may they participate on the basis of funds. What percentage takes place from other bodies. I have not had the chance to study report in depth. But I have taken part in work carried out.

Deputy Secretary
The Fund established by the Gen Assembly can expand the fund. It was established in 1985 to assist in this WGIP. With the creation of the WGDDRIP, Gen Assembly extended the mandate to assist IPs to attend. Then again with the PFII. As for percentage, this year was an interim year. It was approved 2001 so we didn’t have a lot of time to appeal to fund from donors. Everything was done between 1 –2 monhts. Only 25 grants for PF. When had annual session, able to grant 78 travel grants. (Find out how much over years). There were 16 travel grants for the WGDDRIP. For next year, Board of Trustees try to make recommendations based on what was received. There were 250 WGIP, 25 – 30 WGDDRIP applications. Every year we try to include more and more information for transparency. We did include the gender specifics and it is a possibility.

Marta Anna, Peru
It is more important to have more funds. Has it been possible to followup activities carried by the group. Multiplying effect that the responsibility spread out. Is it the same group that participate or new ones.

Miguel Alfonso Martinez
Do you have available information on the available funds. What is the trend? We are providing assistance to the PF, WGDDRIP and WGIP. What is the trend is it increasing funds each year and to what extent is there a need to cover other activities.

Deputy Secretary
About followup of Indigenous representatives, when IPs arrive they deliver copies of their statements that is the only requirement. At its 15th session, Board of Trustees started to think about doing a study. Concerning participation of IPs and it it changes. We analyze the applications we receive. Everyone is free to send application form. If these applications are from people who already have participated, we fund people. One criteria is that it will allows try to have two groups as beneficiaries.One is person who never participated and the second people who already attended to have a good core group of indigenous representatives. I appeal to you to help disseminate the forms to our different indigenous network. You came here you collected that information. Please do disseminate it back home. Yes, we do now have three activities but no increse. WE have 78 beneficiaries which is the same amount.

Miguel Alfonso Martinez
We are finishing ahead of time. We are not finishing ahead of time not to only have four days. We have worked efficiently. Everyone has had chance to speak out and we have applied discipline in taking the floor. We have expressed our criteria on items I the agenda. I think this guarantees our effectiveness and use of our time. I have some items. I do not like to make long speeches in starting out or closing a meeting. We shall see each other next years. We had 1,010. We have never had so many people participating. We have had substantial, in-depth discussion. In my view, this session has represented one of the greatest challenges we ever had. I remember when we were working on the DDRIP. We still hope it will be adopted in this decade. We went through many types of challenges and members of the group had to solve problems in drafting. This year the intellectual activity had resulted in how we can improve our work. We have some work to be carried out but because th! ese ideas are confused because there have been many initiatives here to force us to reconsider our WGIP. Not just reconsider but to restructure it. We shall start over the weekend with an intensive brainstorming and a joint brainstorming before the next meeting. We have a strict deadline. We have to finish report at beginning of the week. We have restrictions on the volume of pages we shall draft. We will have to have recommendations and suggestions. We can only use 16 pages. The restrictions are quite clear. We have to reorganize our traditional report. We will take decision but the report will include initial summary regarding elections and procedures. The second part will be summary of the main part and general debate to the substantial items. The third part suggestions from members of WG in contrast with other participants. The final part will be conclusions and recommendations. Recommendations drafted in light of suggestions put forward. We shall do the utmost to includ! e the most important ones handed in by you and those we have been able to hand in. I would like the secretariat through internet to publish the recommendations in the corresponding site. I would like to thank DoCip and the interpreters who made communication possible. I would also like to thank my colleagues with the spirit we have been working with.

Adeler Blackman
Masicho (Thank You)
Ole Henrik Magga