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The annual United Nations forum on indigenous issues opened today with a call from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Member States to promote development while respecting the values and traditions of indigenous peoples.

“The loss of irreplaceable cultural practices and means of artistic expression makes us all poorer, wherever our roots may lie,” Mr. Ban told the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York. This year’s theme at the forum is “Development with Culture and Identity.”
“I call on all governments, indigenous peoples, the UN system and all other partners to ensure that the vision behind the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples becomes a reality for all,” the Secretary-General added.
Mr. Ban’s call comes as New Zealand announced today that it will reverse its decision and support the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. New Zealand was one of four countries – the others being Australia, Canada and the United States – that voted against the Declaration in 2007. Australia reversed its decision last year.
The landmark document outlines the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlaws discrimination against them. (...)

The article:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34412&Cr=indigenous&Cr1=

The Forum website:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_ninth.html

The conclusions of the Forum:

http://climate-l.org/2010/05/04/unpfii-9-calls-for-development-models-based-on-indigenous-values-cultures-and-identities/?referrer=climate-l.org-daily-feed

Links to further information:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/hr5022.doc.htm