INFORMATION NOTE

Geneva, 30 September 2003

Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection
of Human Rights' decisions and resolutions relating to indigenous issues

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights would like to draw your attention to the following decisions and resolutions regarding indigenous issues adopted at the fifty-fifth session of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in August 2003.

In its decision 2003/113, the Sub-Commission requests the Secretary-General to submit the preliminary report of Mrs. Daes on "Indigenous peoples' permanent sovereignty over natural resources" to
Governments, indigenous peoples' communities and organizations, specialized agencies, other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for their comments, information and data that would be important for the Special Rapporteur in elaborating her final report.
The preliminary report (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/20) is available on the OHCHR's website: www.unhchr.ch.

In its resolution 2003/29 (para. 2), the Sub-Commission requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations on its twenty-first session (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/22 also available on the OHCHR website) to all indigenous organizations, Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned and invites them (para. 13), to provide information and data, in particular on the principal theme "Indigenous Peoples and Conflict Resolution", relevant to the
Working Group's agenda at its twenty-second session.

In view of the above, your organization is invited to send any information and comments they might wish to contribute in relation to Mrs. Daes' study and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations' agenda no later than 1 December 2003 to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais Wilson, 1211 Geneva 10, FAX:
(41-22) 917 90 08,
e-mail: ikempf@ohchr.org.

With best wishes,
Indigenous and Minorities Team