JOINT INTERVENTION OF KA LAHUI HAWAI'I AND TE KAWAU MARO

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues:
1st Session, May 13-24, 2002
United Nations New York
Agenda Item #7 - Work Plan of the Permanent Forum

Mr. Chair, Members of the Permanent Forum, Indigenous Representatives and government delegates:

In the interests of conserving time, this is a joint intervention on behalf of the Hawaiian citizens of Ka Lahui Hawai'i and the Maori of Te Kawao Maro. We respectfully recommend that the Work Plan of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues include addressing the following issues:

1. The issue of informed consent in all areas where indigenous peoples are affected. In order for true equal partnerships to occur, all parties, in particular indigenous peoples, must be involved in all formal consultations and implementation before any project, activity or development is initiated. Furthermore, no project, activity or development should be implemented without the full and informed consent of the indigenous peoples.

2. The budget for the Permanent Forum needs to be a top priority. A substantially financed Permanent Forum, with consultation in every part of the financial process with Representatives of the Permanent Forum or at least an established sub-committee of the Permanent Forum Representatives.

3. The Secretariat is another priority for Indigenous Peoples. The Secretariat should be Indigenous led and adequately staffed by appropriate Indigenous personnel as an independent Secretariat linked to ECOSOC. While the support of the United Nations Agency Group is commended, as is non-Indigenous support, it is time for an Indigenous led and driven International Agency. Moreover, a full report proposing finance for the secretarial budget and administration, including staff members and time frames for implementation, should be submitted for discussion at the next Permanent Forum meeting.

4. A comprehensive Media Network and website should be funded and established for the Permanent Forum for collection and dissemination of information about Indigenous Peoples and the progression of work by the Permanent Forum.

5. Finally, Ka Lahui Hawai'i and Te Kawao Maro unequivocally support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as adopted by the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples and the Sub-Commission on Human Rights in 1993 and 1994, respectively.

Mahalo (thank you) Mr. Chair.

Copyright Natalie Drache 1999