The second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will take place 12-23 May 2003 at
United Nations Headquarters in New York. The theme for this upcoming second session is on "Indigenous
Children and Youth".

Deadline for registration to participate as an observer is 13 April 2003. Registration forms are available on the new Permanent Forum website located at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/pfii/pfii2.htm .

LINKS

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - the official United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights site for information pertaining to the forum.

Indigenous Peoples - information concerning initiatives focusing on Indigenous Peoples, Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights.

NYC Accommodations (pdf document) - Information compiled by the American Indian Law Alliance. This document is for information purposes only. Please confirm BEFORE making reservations.

NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples - Information about the CONGO Substantive Committee and its activities.

RECEPTION FOR THE PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

May 13-24 marked the historic first session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations. To celebrate the occasion, on May 14 the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples and the Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) hosted a welcoming reception in the United Nations Visitors Lobby.

Against a backdrop of indigenous music and colorful traditional dress from all over the world, the audience heard welcoming remarks by Ambassador Ivan Simonovic, President of ECOSOC; Ole Henrik Magga, representative of the Saami People and Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Ambassador Marjatta Rasi, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Finland to the U.N.; Leslie Wright, First Vice President of CONGO; and Roberto Mucaro Borrero, Chairperson of the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. This momentous event celebrated the beginning of a new relationship between the United Nations and Indigenous Peoples. The Forum looks forward to a world where Indigenous Peoples are an integral part of international forums, and where the human rights of all peoples are respected.

Roberto Mucaro Borrero with Rigoberta Menchu

Leslie Wright at Indigenous Reception