The Human Rights Council
Updated June 2008
The Human Rights Council appoints the five members of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
At the end of its last meeting (June 2008), the Human Rights Council adopted the list of 13 candidates for special procedures mandate holders proposed by the President of the Council. The list adopted included the names of the five independent experts appointed by the Council as members of the new Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In this regard, IWGIA would like to congratulate Ms Catherine Odimba Kombe, Ms Jannie Lasimbang, Mr. John B. Henriksen, Mr. José Carlos Morales Morales and Mr. José Mencio Molintas on their appointment to this Mechanism.
We are convinced that the five members appointed will make full use of their expertise and experience on indigenous peoples’ rights in their new and important position, and we in IWGIA look forward to collaborating with them on the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Background
In September 2007, by means of its Resolution 6/16, the Human Rights Council agreed to organize an informal meeting that took place in Geneva on 6-7 December 2007 with the purpose of “exchanging views on the most appropriate mechanism to continue the work of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations”. On December 14, 2007, by means of its Resolution 6/36, the Human Rights Council agreed by consensus to establish a new Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Expert Mechanism is the final piece of the Council’s institution-building package to be put in place. Its adoption is a major step forward in the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ human rights.
Read the Human Rights Council's press release at OHCHR's web site
Brief description of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Mandate
The new Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reports directly to the Human Rights Council. Its mandate is to assist the Human Rights Council in the implementation of its mandate by providing thematic expertise and making proposals to the Council pertaining to the rights of indigenous peoples. Experts
The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples consists of five independent experts. Their selection tkaes place in accordance with the Council’s formal procedures for nominating, short-listing and appointing independent experts to any of its special procedures and mechanisms. Through this formal process, indigenous peoples' organizations have the possibility of nominating indigenous experts. Furthermore, the resolution clearly recommends that, in the selection and appointment process, the Council should give due regard to experts of indigenous origin. The independent experts are appointed for a three-year period and may be re-elected for one further period.
The five experts appointed by the Human Rights Council in June 2008 for the period 2008-2010 are: - Ms. Catherine Odimba Kombe (Congo)
- Ms. Jannie Lasimbang (Malaysia)
- Mr. John Henrikson (Norway)
- Mr. José Carlos Morales Morales (Costa Rica)
- Mr. José Mencio Molintas (Philippines)
Meeting date and participation
The Expert Mechanism will meet once for three days in its first year and thereafter for up to five days. The sessions can be a combination of open and private meetings. The first meeting of the expert mechanism will take place in Geneva from 1 to 3 October 2008. The annual meeting of the Expert Mechanism is open to the participation, as observers, of states, United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies. The meeting is also be open to indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, academics, etc. To ensure that the Expert Mechanism enhances cooperation and avoids duplicating the work of the Special Rapporteur and the Permanent Forum, it will invite the Special Rapporteur and a member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to attend and contribute to its annual meetings. Further information on the registration and accreditation will be available from the Office of the High Commissioner’s website as from the middle of July 2008. |