United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

About UNPFII:

• It is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council.
• It was established on 28 July 2000. 
• Mandate:To deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
• The first meeting of the Permanent Forum was held in May 2002, with yearly sessions thereafter.
• It is one of three UN bodies that is mandated to deal specifically with indigenous peoples’ issues.
• The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoplesand the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of indigenous peoples.

Who are Indigenous Peoples?

• Indigenous peoples have in common a historical continuity with a given region before colonization and a strong link to their lands.
• They maintain, at least in part, distinct social, economic and political systems.
• They have distinct languages, cultures, beliefs and knowledge systems.
• They are determined to maintain and develop their identity and distinct institutions and they form a non-dominant sector of society.