The Indigenous Affairs 1-2/08: The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Discusses Climate Change

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Permanent Forum) was established in 2000 and is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. The Permanent Forum comprises 16 independent experts, functioning in their personal capacity, who serve as Members for a three-year term and may be re-elected or re-appointed for one additional term. Eight of the Members are nominated by governments and eight are nominated directly by indigenous organizations in their regions. The government-nominated members are elected by ECOSOC in line with the five regional groupings usually followed by the United Nations. The indigenous-nominated members are directly appointed by the President of ECOSOC after consultation with indigenous organisations and states. The indigenous members represent seven socio-cultural regions that are established to give broad representation to the world’s indigenous peoples. The regions are Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean, the Arctic, Central and Eastern Europe, North America and the Pacific.