This
year, we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
under the theme
Indigenous
peoples building alliances: Honouring treaties, agreements and other
constructive arrangements".
The
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) pays tribute to
indigenous peoples around the world and particularly to the International
Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) for their contributions under the
Convention on Biological Diversity. The IIFB has been working to build
constructive alliances and partnerships for conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity since 1992.
Indigenous
peoples and local communities are important actors in achieving the three goals
of the Convention. Reflecting this, the Conference of the Parties of the CBD,
in 1998, established a Working Group on Article 8(j) and related provisions, as
a forum to promote dialogue between indigenous and local communities and
Parties, and other stakeholders. The Working Group on Article 8(j) includes
enhanced participation mechanisms for indigenous and local communities, such
as: the nomination of an indigenous co-chair to chair its meetings, as well as
indigenous and local community representatives (ILCs) to its bureau, as well as
co-chairs for sub-working groups and contact groups. All of this enhances
opportunities for ILCs to make substantive interventions on all agenda items.
Thanks
to this process, indigenous peoples are contributing to constructive
arrangements for implementation of the Convention, including but not limited
to:
- The Revised Programme of Work to implement of
Article 8 (j);
- Akwé: Kon Voluntary guidelines for the conduct of
cultural, environmental and social
impact assessments regarding developments
proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and
on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local
communities;
- The Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct to
Ensure Respect for the Cultural and Intellectual Heritage of Indigenous and
Local Communities Relevant to the Conservation and Sustainable Use of
Biological Diversity;
- Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources
and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization ;
and
- The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,
particularly Target 18.
The Akwé: Kon Voluntary guidelines adopted by COP in its decision VII/16
are a good example of this constructive engagement. The guidelines are
voluntary and are intended to serve as guidance for Parties and Governments, in
the development and implementation of their impact- assessment regimes. The
guidelines should be taken into consideration whenever developments are
proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and
on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local
communities (I. Purpose and approach .paragraph 1). These guidelines provide a
collaborative framework within which Governments, indigenous and local
communities, decision makers and managers of assessments work constructively
and collaboratively together.
The Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct is yet another example of
constructive engagement, that provides guidance to Parties, Governments and
researchers interacting with indigenous and local communities. Adopted by COP
10 in its decision X/43, his code provides guidance to Parties, Governments and
others interacting with indigenous and local communities on procedures and
principles to consider when working with indigenous and local communities.
The Nagoya Protocol provides a framework for access and benefit sharing
for use of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources. The Nagoya
Protocol incorporates a series of provisions addressing traditional knowledge.
Its general provisions offer, in practice, tools and mechanisms which assist in
the protection of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resource. The
Nagoya Protocol provides, among other principles, that access to and use of
traditional knowledge should be subject to the prior informed consent or
approval and involvement of the relevant indigenous and local communities
(knowledge holders) and furthermore participate in the equitable sharing of
benefits derived thereof and that this is based upon mutually agreed terms.
All of these instruments will contribute to the achievement of Aichi
Target 18 – that by 2020, the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local
communities and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, and
fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the
full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all
relevant levels, particularly at local and national level.
I hope, therefore to continue working together for our Mother Earth,
especially at the eight Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and
Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity from 7 to 11
October, to be held in Montreal, Canada.
I wish indigenous peoples from all
over the world a memorable celebration of this International Day of Indigenous
Peoples and I look forward to our continued collaboration and work together to
implement the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Montreal,
08 August 2013
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