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Information Note on the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations 2004
This is to inform you that the twenty-second session of the Working
Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) will meet at the United Nations
Office in Geneva from 19 to 23 July 2004. The Working Group is open to
representatives of indigenous organizations, peoples and communities
as well as representatives of Governments, non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. The report
of the Working Group on its twenty-first session (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/22) can be found
on our website: www.unhchr.ch .
You are invited to contribute relevant information and data to the
main theme of this year's session « Indigenous Peoples and Conflict
Resolution». Contributions are also welcome for the Working Group' s
future standard setting activities, especially the two working papers
that are being prepared this year for this purpose. The first deals
with the principle of free, prior and informed consent of indigenous
peoples in relation to development affecting their lands and natural
resources and will serve as a framework for the drafting of a legal
commentary by the Working Group. The second will serve
as a guideline for the review of the draft principles and guidelines
on the heritage of indigenous peoples to be undertaken by the Working
Group. Indigenous organizations are also invited to organize
parallel events for the celebration of the International Decade and to
participate in an evaluation of the Decade that will take place under
the relevant agenda item. All contributions should be received by
our office by 26 April 2004.
If you wish to participate in the WGIP, your organization should inform our Office by letter or fax with the name(s) of
your delegate(s) so that we can send you the corresponding invitation and
prepare the security badges that will allow you to access the meeting.
Upon arrival in Geneva, you will obtain your badges from the UN Security Office, Villa Feuillantines, opposite the main
entrance of the Palais des Nations.
The application deadline to obtain travel and other financial assistance from the UN Voluntary Fund was 1 October
2003. Please note that the UN cannot provide any further opportunities for
financial assistance for participation in the 2004 Working Group.
Dear All,
Please find above the Information Note on the Working
Group on Indigenous Populations 2004, which explains how you can contribute to
and participate in this year's session of the Working Group.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Working Group.
We also wish to inform you that the preparatory meeting for indigenous
peoples will take place at the World Council of Churches Headquarters
in Geneva the weekend before the Working Group, i.e. on
17-18 July 2004. Further information on this meeting can be obtained from the
Indigenous Peoples Programme, World Council of Churches, Tel. +41-22-791-60-44, e-mail:
lsm@wcc-coe.org .
We look forward to hearing from you.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Ms. Isabell Kempf at ikempf@ohchr.org
With best regards,
Isabell Kempf
Secretary of the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations
UN-OHCHR
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