STATEMENT
Second intersessional meeting of the Human Rights Council on concrete ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Council.
Session 3 - Venues of participation.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN, Permanent Representative of Norway.
Check against delivery
18 October 2024
STATEMENT
Second intersessional meeting of the Human Rights Council on concrete ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Council.
Session 3 - Venues of participation.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway.
Check against delivery
18 October 2024
We thank the panel for their interventions.
In Norway’s perspective, Indigenous Peoples’ representatives should be granted arrangements and modalities that ensure their full effective and meaningful participation in the Human Rights’ Council’s work.
Participation is important in all matters which Indigenous Peoples themselves judge to affect their interests. When deciding which meetings of the Council should include the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions, the criteria should be guided by Indigenous Peoples’ own assessment regarding which issues affect their interests.
The existing participation of Indigenous Peoples in the Human Rights Council meetings, including the intersessional meeting in July, in the 57th session’s interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in the informal negotiation of resolutions, and in this intersessional meeting we clearly saw the value of their participation.
We also support their participation in the annual panel on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and separate permanent seats in the Council.
We would endorse the same modalities for Indigenous Peoples as for civil society and national human rights institutions.
During the 57th session we saw good examples of participation of Indigenous Peoples, such as the Sámi Parliament in Norway who for the first time participated and delivered statements as Indigenous Peoples.
Norway is an active contributor to the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples. We encourage states to contribute to the Fund, to ensure that adequate funding is available to support the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in relevant forums.
Thank you.