TO
INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS, NATIONS, AND OTHER
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
From
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Room DC2-1772 United Nations, New York, New York 10017
Telephone (917) 367-5100 - Fax (917) 367-5102 –
Email IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/news/DECADE_letter_ipos_nations_ngos.doc
Re: Second International Decade
of the World’s Indigenous People
Dear Friends,
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which is
home to the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues, wishes to bring to your attention General Assembly
resolution A/RES/59/174 adopted on 22 December 2004 and
entitled “Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous
People”. A copy of the resolution is attached.
In proclaiming the Second Decade as of 1 January 2005,
the General Assembly, inter alia, decided that the goal
of the Decade should be the further strengthening of international
cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous
peoples in such areas as culture, education, health, human
rights, the environment and economic and social development,
by means of action-oriented programmes and specific projects,
increased technical assistance and relevant standard-setting
activities. The Assembly requested the Secretary-General
to appoint the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and
Social Affairs as the Coordinator of the Second Decade.
It requested the Coordinator to fulfill the mandate in full
cooperation and consultation with Governments, the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues, and other relevant bodies and
mechanisms of the United Nations system, the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, other
members of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous
Issues and indigenous and non-governmental organizations.
The General Assembly also urges Governments, intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the
Voluntary Fund for the Second Decade established by the
Secretary General for the purpose of funding projects and
programmes during the Second Decade.
The General Assembly requests the Secretary-General to
submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth
session on a comprehensive programme of action for the Second
Decade based on the achievements of the first Decade. The
evaluation of the first Decade submitted to the General
Assembly in 2004 is contained in document A/59/277 and may
be accessed at the United Nations Official Documentation
System (ODS) at documents.un.org.
Non-governmental organizations are invited to submit comments
and suggestions for a comprehensive programme of action
for the Second Decade by 20 April 2005 in order to allow
the timely circulation of information and dialogue among
all concerned, including at the Fourth Session of the Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2005. The information
and proposals that will be received will form the basis
for the submission of a report by the Secretary-General
to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session.
Correspondence regarding this matter should be addressed
to the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department
of Economic and Social Affairs, Room DC2-1772, United Nations,
New York, NY 10017. Fax: (917) 367-5102. Email: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org
.
Tribal Ink News will be attending this conference with
the Kogis as special guests. We fully support the goals
for the Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous People
and invite all NGOs to summit comments as your voice is
needed in this special times.
