On the 29th and 30th of November 2003 the International Alliance and the Climate Alliance hosted the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change meeting in Milan, Italy, prior to the COP9 of the UNFCCC. The meeting brought together over 15 indigenous peoples' representatives from around the world to provide input into the government dicusssions following. A range of side-events, including high-level meetings with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC were realized during the first weeks of December. The support and hard work of the Climate Alliance in realizing this meeting were invaluable.

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Indigenous Peoples have been patiently waiting for the parties to the UNFCCC to settle down their disputes and to finish their negotiations to the Kyoto Protocol. But now parties should take into consideration that Indigenous Peoples cannot not wait for the current UN-Decade of Indigenous Populations to come to it’s end in 2004 without having succeeded to make a step forward with regards to full and effective participation in the whole range of negotiations and activities of the UNFCCC. Most other relevant UN-Bodies, Organizations and processes (inter alia ECOSOC, Agenda 21, CBD, WSSD) have recognized Indigenous Peoples fundamental role in the great environmental and developmental challenges that face human mankind today. Indigenous Peoples cannot merely be treated like NGOs as observers to the UNFCCC. They are “Peoples” with inherent rights that clearly implicate a special constituency and a process of it’s own.

It is of grave concern to us that the doors to the UNFCCC stay closed. It is not acceptable that the whole range of issues that have impacts on Indigenous Peoples are treated without our participation; in particular, activities within the CDM such as afforestation and reforestation projects or hydroelectric power plants that in the past has meant violation of rights to Indigenous Peoples. We are also concerned about the impacts of climate change on the livelihood of Indigenous Peoples.

It is unacceptable that our issues had not received the attention they deserve, nor our participation. It is regrettable that a UN process that touches on our very existence should neglect us to such an extent. Our existence is a right and we are fed-up with the kind of window dressing that is being given to our participation and our issues. We therefore call on SBSTA and SBI eighteenth sessions to take urgent steps to address our concerns. We seek a participation to guarantee that our issues are included in the Agenda of COP 9 in Milan.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Hector Huertas Gonzalez (Cealp)
International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of Tropical Forests

For further information:
Parshuram Tamang email: ps@tamang.wlink.com.np
Hector Huertas email: oloubili@yahoo.com

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I would like to congratulate the indigenous peoples on this, their special day, on the progress they have achieved in the international arena, and in particular, on the recent establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues as well as on their participation in the climate change process.

The creation of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is a major milestone in the history of the indigenous peoples’ struggle for international recognition. The Forum has now completed two sessions and is fulfilling its important advisory role to the United Nations Economic and Social Council on socio-economic matters of critical interest to indigenous peoples, including the environment.
In the climate change debate, indigenous peoples and local communities have been involved from the early 1990s. However, since the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997, their involvement has grown and become more visible. Their representatives attend sessions regularly, have become increasingly active in communicating their concerns to Parties and observers, and have successfully become recognized as an important constituency interest group.

Indigenous peoples are united by their spiritual, cultural and social linkages with their territories, many of which are vulnerable to climate change and its potential solutions. They have taken up this challenge to address climate change by their active participation at an international level. Their knowledge and experience contribute to the climate negotiations, their participation in processes designed to allow local feedback on projects is vital, and their role in raising public awareness on the climate change issues is key.

On this, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, it is important that we take special note of the contribution and aspirations of indigenous peoples and local communities in addressing complex global issues.

9 August 2003
by the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - Joke Waller-Hunter

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Indigenous Participants of the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change 29th - 30th, 2003

• Fiu Mataese ELISARA, Samoa
• Penninah ZANINKA, Uganda
• Kalimba ZEPHYRIN, Rwanda
• Parshuram TAMANG, Nepal
• Stella TAMANG, Nepal
• Jocelyn Roger THERESE, French Guyana
• Hubertus SAMANGUN, Indonesia
• Marcial ARIAS, Panama
• Raymond de CHAVEZ, The Philippines
• Edwin VASQUEZ CAMPOS, Peru
• Hector HUERTAS, Panama
• Dr. Sukhendo DEBBARMA, India
• Anastasia C. PINTO, India

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