The UNPFII has assessed the Millennium Development Goals from the perspective of indigenous peoples – in particular issues in the areas of economic and social development, environment, health, education, culture, and human rights.

Below is an article published by UNPO:

In addition to attending the main sessions of the UNPFII, UNPO’s representative, Miss Sofia Mårn has also attended a number of side events hosted on the fringes of the main Forum.  Chief among these was an expert session on ‘Managing Indigenous Local Governments: Balancing Traditions with Emerging Challenges’ sponsored by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  The experts met on Wednesday 23 April 2008, with a panel headed by His Excellency Ambassador Robert Hill of Australia.  Discussion centered on how to develop the capacity of indigenous local government through information exchange and how indigenous peoples could best meet the challenges of the twenty-first century whilst still retaining long-standing traditions. 

In a separate side event entitled ‘Indigenous Peoples, Climate Change and Biodiversity’, UNPO heard firsthand personal accounts of how climate change was affecting the lives of indigenous peoples around the world.  The impact of climate change on nomadic pastoralists such as the Maasai was noted by Mr. Adam K. Mwarabu, representing the Parakuiyo Pastoralists Indigenous Community Development Organization (Paicodeo) of Southern Tanzania.  Mr. Mwarabu spoke of the increased scarcity of water which was leading to low-level conflict and increased cattle-raiding as resources became ever more overburdened.  He added that current responses to the problem did not adequately take into account indigenous people.  Moreover, these people did not receive the input, resources, support, or information that would allow them to combat the effects of climate change on their and future generations.  This particular issue has been one gaining in importance, and 2008 has seen one of the driest periods in the Horn of Africa for decades, putting at risk over ten million people.  Affected are not only the Maasai in Tanzania and Kenya, but also the Oromo of Ethiopia and the de facto state Somaliland which is heavily reliant on livestock exports.

However the same event saw criticism levelled at the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by Mr. Tom Griffiths of the Forest Peoples Program.  Mr. Griffiths believed the language used in the Convention was too weak and the lack of any reference to rights was a serious omission which should be addressed.  Adopting a rights-based approach would herald a break from the top-down methodology which had been shown not to work Mr. Griffiths stated.  The fact that indigenous people were unable to participate in the UNFCCC was also a flaw which if corrected would improve the effectiveness of the Convention significantly.  Deforestation is a major problem for indigenous people living in South East Asia where exotic hardwoods can be an important, and valuable, natural resource.  However in states such as Burma the proceeds from the sale of such woods help to sustain the military junta and the crackdowns that have been carried out against pro-democracy activists since the 1980s.

Emphasis during the afternoon shifted back to the main session and the specific problems facing indigenous peoples living in the Pacific area.  The UNPFII human rights portfolio holder, Mr. Michael Dodson, described the use of indigenous lands for the dumping of toxic civil and military wastes.  Representing the Pacific Regional Caucus, Ms. Malia Nobrega reiterated Mr. Dodson’s findings and stated that the Pacific should no longer be considered "the dumpsite of the world".  Ms. Nobrega went on to express disappointment that indigenous peoples such as those living in Taiwan were not permitted to join the Forum.  China took up its right to reply to state that it regretted Ms. Nobrega’s comments and used the opportunity to reiterate the ‘One China’ policy espoused by Beijing. 

The way in which rich natural resources such as copper, gold, and phosphates were being exploited in the Pacific region also came in for widespread criticism.  The mismanagement and pollution that had accompanied their exploitation had led to tremendous damage to sacred sites and important water sources and ecosystems.  Bougainville has long been a potent example of the irreversible damage mining could inflict upon a landscape and a people.  But mining operations in West Papua and Cordillera were threatening to repeat the mistakes make in Bougainville.

The discussion on the Pacific closed the third day of the UNPFII.  Delegates will meet again on Thursday 24 April 2008 to discuss the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the six mandated areas of the UNPFII.  The six areas involve the fields of economic and social development, environment, health, education, culture, and human rights.  The day is scheduled to close with a discussion on indigenous languages and the presentation of the report of the international expert group meeting on indigenous languages.