Forum conference report 2010 : Indigenous Participation in Policy-making: Ideals, Realities and Possibilities

Abstract

Presentations at this years Forum for Development Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples all recognized the current strengthening of indigenous rights at global, regional and national levels – as evidenced by the growing body of documents outlining comprehensive ideals for indigenous rights. These are laid out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) the International Labour Organization Convention 169 (ILO 169), and in other global, regional and national documents recognizing indigenous rights. Many of the presentations also gave concrete examples of how these ideals are easily bypassed by governments and corporations when they are inconvenient for them, and what other challenges can arise in efforts to implement indigenous peoples right to participation. What are the possible solutions? What is the way out of the ‘implementation gap’ as many referred to it? How can we move forward productively in a way that allows for indigenous peoples to really participate in decision-making processes that affect them – not only those are defined as ‘indigenous’ but at all levels? These were the questions that the conference presentations addressed.