The 13th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, initially scheduled to take place from 8 to12 June 2020, was postponed to take place from 30 November to 4 December 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the ongoing COVID-19 crisis affecting the travel of members, Indigenous Peoples, Member States and others, the EMRIP decided to convert its postponed 13^th into four virtual regional meetings, followed by a wrap up meeting for the EMRIP members and Secretariat only.

The topic of the regional meetings will be, "The impact of COVID-19 on the rights of indigenous peoples under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples". See Concept Note. The outcome of these regional meetings is reflected in the EMRIP's annual report and may be viewed on the webcast here: http://webtv.un.org/

The regional meetings were held as follows:

1. Africa and North America - Monday 30 November from 15:00 to 17:00 (Geneva time). Interpretation in English, and French. Agenda: English | Français
2. Pacific and Asia - Tuesday 1 December from 9:00 to 11:00 (Geneva time). Interpretation in English and French. Agenda
3. The Arctic; Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia - Wednesday 2 December from 15:00 to 17:00(Geneva time). Interpretation in English, French and Russian. Agenda
4. Central and South America and the Caribbean - Thursday 3 December from 15:00 to 17:00 (Geneva time). Interpretation in English, French and Spanish. Agenda

Documentation

The following submissions were received by the EMRIP, and some were given as statements by participants during the regional meetings:

A) Africa and North America – 30 November 2020

• Congres Mondial Amazigh,
• FHQ Tribal Council (FHQTC), Canada
• Hai Om San Bushmen Community Development Organisation, Namibia
• Indigenous Bar Association, Canada
• Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee
• International Indian Treaty Council (IITC)
• International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) News Report 2020
• Indigenous World Association (IWA), Canada
• Ministere de la Justice, Congo
• National Statement, Canada
• PineCreek First Nation Manitoba, Canada
• Santa Mbororo Youths Association (SAMUSA-SANTA), Cameroon
• Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Canada

B) Asia and Pacific – 01 December 2020

• Aid to Tai People
• Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)
• Asia Indigenous Peoples' Caucus, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Indigenous Peoples Disabilities Network
• Hokkaido Ainu, Japan
• Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Malaysia
• Human Rights Commission Te Kāhui Tika Tangata, New Zealand
• India Indigenous Peoples and Adivasi Samanway Manch Bharat
• Indigenous Peoples' Organization (IPO), Australia
• Indigenous Women's Network, India
• Independent Iwi Monitoring Mechanism (IWI), New Zealand
• Joint Statement, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus, Asia Indigenous Youth Platform (AIYP) and Asia Young Indigenous People's Network (AYIPN)
• Joint Statement, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus & Network of Indigenous Women in Asia (NIWA)
• Joint statement Kapeeng Foundation (KF), Bangladesh Indigenous Women Network (BIWN), Jatiya Adivashi parishad (JAP), Bangladesh
• Joint Statement, Lawyers' Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHRUNIP), Indigenous Peoples Nepal Trust, Community Law Firm Study and Research Dabu
• Joint Statement, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Karbi Human Rights Watch (KHRW), Borok Peoples' Human Rights Organization (BPHRO), Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF), Boro Peoples Committee for Peace Initiatives (BPCI), Northeast India
• Joint Statement, Nirai Kanai nu Kai and Shimin Gaikou Centre
• Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF)
• National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Philippines
• National Indigenous Australians Agency
• New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council
• New Zealand, Ministry for Māori Development
• United Nations Association of Australia- Qld-Division
• West Papua Interest Association (WPIA)

C) The Arctic; Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia – 02 December 2020

• Aborigen Forum, Russian Federation
• Association Indigenous Minorities North Ulch District
• Association of indigenous peoples Yamal-potomkam
• Community of Indigenous Peoples Tyakha Krasnoyarsk region, Russia
• Ecospirituality Foundation Onlus
• Inuit Cirumpolar Council, Greenland
• Intervention by First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine
• Intervention European Union
• Joint Statement delivered by Denmark on behalf of a group of states
• KmnSOYUZ Organization
• National Statement, Russia
• Saami Council
• Sami Parliament, Finland
• Sámi Parliament, Norway
• Sámi Parliament, Sweden
• The Arctic Counsel Russia

D) Central and South America and the Caribean – 03 December 2020

• Agricultural Service for Research and Economic Development - SAIPE, Peru
• Ayullu Tawqa Killaka, Bolivia
• Comunidad San Francisco de Cajas, Ecuador
• Defensoría del Pueblo, Ecuador
• Federação das Organizações Indígenas do Rio Negro (FOIRN) y Rede de Cooperação Amazônica (RCA)
• Fondo para el desarollo de los pueblos indígenas de Americá Latina y el Caribe (FILAC)
• Indian Law Resource Center
• Individual Statement Nazareth Cabrera G
• Intervención de Venezuela
• Intervención de España
• Interventión de Guatemala
• Intervención de México
• Intervención Pueblo Rapa Nui
• Joint Statement CODECA, Asociacon B'elejeb Tz's, Fransisicans International, Fastenopfer - Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund
• Joint Statement Organización Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas de la Amazonía Colombiana-OPIAC, Amazon Conservation Team - Colombia, DeJusticia, Fundación Gaia Amazonas, Sinergias-Alianzas Estratégicas para la Salud y el Desarrollo Social y Clinica Juridica
• Ka'Kuxtal Much Meyaj/Organizaciones Mayas
• Ministerio de Cultura, Perú
• Organisation des Nationes Autochtones de Guyane (NAG)
• Organización Regional de la Asociación Inter éthnica de Desarollo de la Selva Peruana Uayali-ORAU
• Presentación del Ombudsman de El Salvador
• Pueblo Pijao, Colombia
• Red Ecledial Panamazónica - Dossier Covid-19 en la Panamazónia
• Comunidades Nativas Shipibo-Konzibo, Ucayali, Amazonía del Perú
• Special Secretariat for Indigenous Health (SESAI)/ Ministry of Health and the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), Brazil
• United Confederation of Taino People and the Caribbean Development Organization Amerindian
• Yamasi People