HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL'S EXPERT MECHANISM ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO HOLD FIRST MEETING IN GENEVA

29 September 2008

The Human Rights Council's Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will hold its first meeting in Geneva from 1 to 3 October at the Palais des Nations.

The Expert Mechanism, a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council established by the Council in December 2007, will assist the Council in providing thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples and will focus mainly on studies and research-based advice. Composed of five independent experts, the Expert Mechanism may also suggest proposals to the Council for its consideration and approval.

During its inaugural meeting this week, the Expert Mechanism is scheduled to elect its officers, adopt its agenda and programme of work and begin considering ways on providing thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Council, which will be focused mainly on studies and research-based advice. The five experts are also expected to make proposals to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval. At the end of the three-day meeting on Friday, 3 October, they are scheduled to adopt the report of this first session.

As the Expert Mechanism is open for the participation of observers, the meeting is expected to gather representatives of States; United Nations bodies; intergovernmental and regional organizations; national human rights institutions; academics and experts on indigenous issues; and non-governmental organizations. Over 300 observers, most of whom are indigenous people from around the globe, have already registered to attend the event.

The meeting will take place in Room XIX at the Palais des Nations. All accredited media are welcome to attend.

Composition of Expert Mechanism

The Expert Mechanism consists of five independent experts selected in accordance with the procedure established by the Human Rights Council in the resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007. The five experts appointed by the President of the Council for the period 2008-2010 are: Ms. Catherine Odimba Kombe (Congo); Ms. Jannie Lasimbang (Malaysia); Mr. John Bernhard Henriksen (Norway); Mr. José Carlos Morales Morales (Costa Rica); and Mr. José Mencio Molintas (Philippines).

Background

The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was created by the Human Rights Council on 14 December 2007 through the adoption of resolution 6/36. The adoption of this resolution follows an informal meeting held on 6 and 7 December 2007 to discuss the most appropriate mechanisms to continue the work of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. The Expert Mechanism is a subsidiary expert mechanism of the Human Rights Council with a specific mandate to provide thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples in the manner and form requested by the Council. According to the resolution 6/36 of the Human Rights Council, the Expert Mechanism shall meet once annually three days in its first year and thereafter for up to five days.

The Human Rights Council elected the first group of five experts during its 8th regular session on 18 June 2008. The current experts will serve for a two-year term ending in 2010. The thematic expertise to be provided by the experts will focus mainly on studies and research-based advice; the mechanism may also suggest proposals to the Council for its considerations and approval, within the scope of its work as set out by the Council. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been requested to provide human, technical and financial assistance to the Expert Mechanism for the effective fulfillment of its mandate.

For more information about the Expert Mechanism please visit their webpage - http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/ExpertMechanism/index.htm
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