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 1 – Recommendations to the HRC on accreditation principles and criteria.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway.
Check against delivery
17 October 2024
Norway would like to thank the OHCHR and the Secretariat for organizing this important meeting. We recognize the role of the co-facilitators for the two intersessional meetings: Ambassador of Canada (Peter MacDougall), Binota Moy Dhamai and the Ambassador of Australia. Further we thank the core group of Mexico and Guatemala for their leadership on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Human Rights Council.
I also welcome Indigenous Peoples to this Council meeting. We look forward to hearing your perspectives and views.
Norway has consistently promoted the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including their right to participate in all decision-making concerning themselves, also in relevant UN meetings.
Indigenous Peoples’ enhanced, effective and meaningful participation will lead to better processes, decisions and solutions.
A new participatory status, separate from civil society and national human rights institutions must be implemented.
We support the accreditation principles and criteria laid out in the discussion paper and its annex. We underscore the importance of objectivity and transparency, and the principles of self-determination and self-identification, in line with the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The purpose of a distinct status could be to accredit Indigenous representatives, not as individuals, but on behalf of a collective Indigenous People, nation or group. While the principle of consistency is important, we see the need for flexibility in application of the criteria to ensure inclusivity and diversity. Criteria may not all be met in every case, taking into consideration the differences among regions. Ensuring representation and participation of all socio-cultural regions is key.
Finally, we encourage building on the stocktaking report and to identify good practices as we move forward.
Thank you.