VIVAT representatives participated in the opening event of UNPFII16, held in General Assembly Hall, UN Head Quarters in New York on 24 April 2017. The deliberations will focus on the special theme, “Tenth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: measures taken to implement the Declaration” as 2017 marks the 10th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In the changing world threatened by the consequences of climate change, environmental degradation and land grab, the rights and identity issues of indigenous communities call forth the attention of international community to takes measures to recognize and protect their cultural heritage.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN established the UNPFII in 2000. It is a high level advisory body to the ECOSOC with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues in relation to culture, environment, education, social development, economic development and human rights.
For more details:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2/sixteenth-session.html
