FIMI/IIWF's Participation at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
May 14-25, 2007—New York—On May 14th, non-governmental organizations, Indigenous activists, United Nations officials, and government representatives convened for the Sixth Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Permanent Forum is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council of the UN; has a mandate to discuss Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights; and was created six years ago due to pressure from Indigenous women to address the lack of Indigenous perspectives and participation in existing UN bodies and mechanisms.
This year's session of the Permanent Forum focused on "Territories, Lands and Natural Resources." More than a thousand participants from all regions of the world came together with government representatives, UN agencies, academia and civil society at large to state their views, voice their concerns and suggest solutions regarding their lands, territories and natural resources.
During the sixth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, FIMI carried out the following activities:
- Panels on Violence Against Indigenous Women (May 14th) and Funding for Indigenous Women's Rights (May 25th)
- Trainings on Inheritance Rights (May 16th) and Land, Territories and Indigenous Governance (May 23rd)