Mission Statement Strategy Papers Organisational Structure History IWGIA's Activities Annual Reports Support IWGIA Membership Contact IWGIA

English Publications Spanish Publications Publications in Other Languages Forthcoming Publications Information about IWGIA's publications Subscription rates 2008 Download publications Publications by others

Newsletter Calendar of International Meetings 2008 News Archive IWGIA's Logo

Thematic Focus Chittagong Hill Tracts Climate Change Identification of Indigenous Peoples International and National Policies Land Rights Self-determination Poverty Racism Sustainable Development Political Participation Intellectual Property Rights

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Working Group on Indigenous Populations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Council UN Special Rapporteur African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Human Rights Committee Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2nd UN Decade on Indigenous Peoples Arctic Council Organisation of American States

Argentina Botswana Greenland India Laos Malaysia Philippines

	Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
	Working Group on Indigenous Populations
	Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
	Human Rights Council
	UN Special Rapporteur
	African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
	Human Rights Committee
	Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
	2nd UN Decade on Indigenous Peoples
	Arctic Council
	Organisation of American States

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.

Naga, India
Photo: Christian Erni

Creation of the Human Rights Council in 2006 On March 15, 2006, United Nations Member States approved the establishment of a new Human Rights Council to replace the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights, which had come under fire for excessive politicization. The Council held its first session in Geneva from June 19-30, 2006. In this first session of the council, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted. Download the official report from the first session - includes the adopted Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Institution building in 2006 and 2007 The first year of the new Human Rights Council was largely dedicated to negotiations on the Council's institution building. It is, however, still not clear how the Council will address indigenous peoples' human rights situation in its work agenda. With the conclusion of the Council's 5th session in June 2007, the basic structure for the Council's new institutional machinery is in place, including: a. The Universal Periodic Review Mechanism b. The Special Procedures (Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups) c. The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (which replaces the Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights) d. The Complaint Procedure. The Universal Periodic Review mechanism is one of the most significant innovations in this new Human Rights Council. Under this system, for the first time, the human rights records of all UN Member States will be regularly examined through a common mechanism. Indigenous peoples expect that this new mechanism will pay special attention to indigenous peoples' human rights situation. Read the UN Press Release on the conclusion of the 5th session

More information about the Council and its work

Read more about the sessions of the Human Rights Council at the official UN website. You can download all official reports and resolution texts, as well as all the documents presented at the sessions, from the site: www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil

To read more about the process leading to the establishment of the HR Council, read the UN Press Release on the General Assembly resolution on establishment of the council - click here.

Human Rights Watch follows the work of the HR Council. Visit their website at
http://hrw.org/doc/?t=united_nations_hrc