UNDP Equator Initiative / Civil Society Organizations Division Side Event –
Local Action: Indigenous Peoples and the MDGs
at the 3rd Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
UN Headquarters, New York City

Event to held:

Tuesday, 18 May 2004 - 1:15-2:45 p.m.
Conference Room E, United Nations Headquarters, New York City

Background:

Local action and community empowerment are increasingly recognized as critical to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG´s). As well, there is growing recognition of the important role of Indigenous Peoples in promoting, implementing and improving our understanding of effective strategies for environmental conservation and development. Development efforts must respect and incorporate the experiences, knowledge and best practices of local and indigenous communities if they are to effectively achieve results in ways that also serve to reduce poverty, enhance equity, and help reach development targets. The “Local Action” side-event will examine new strategies for community action and discuss the many innovative ways in which indigenous groups are leading the way towards a more sustainable future and are actively building effective networks with a wide range of complementary groups. These vital discussions will foster the types of partnerships and community learning that are necessary to realize the MDG’s.

The side-event will feature several speakers, including:

Mr. Ezequiel Vitónas, representative of Colombia’s Equator Prize 2004-winning “Proyecto Nasa”. This remarkable project takes its roots in a vigorous community of Colombia's indigenous Paez people. Together, they sustainably manage a territory of 49,000 hectares, partially located within the Nevada del Huila Biosphere Reserve on the Colombia-Ecuador border. Since 1980 they have courageously worked to incorporate holistic strategies for natural and cultural preservation into daily life – while in the midst of civil strife and violence from conflicts in their region.

Ms. Lucy Mulenkei, is Executive Director of the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), based in Nairobi, Kenya. IIN generates and publishes the popular grassroots publication, Nomadic News, which focuses on environmental issues and successes affecting pastoralists and hunter-gatherers in Africa. It also disseminates environmental information related to the indigenous movement worldwide and organizes stimulating workshops to provide a much-needed platform for African indigenous people to share and discuss information and to clarify their positions with respect to important international events like the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In 2002 she was the only woman nominated to sit on the nine member National Environment Council, which advises the Kenyan Ministry of Environment.

Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, isExecutive Director of the Tebtebba Foundation (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research & Education), based in the Philippines. The Tebtebba Foundation is an indigenous peoples' organization born out of the need for heightened advocacy to have the rights of indigenous peoples recognized, respected and protected worldwide. Established in 1996, Tebtebba seeks to promote a better understanding of the world's indigenous peoples, their worldviews, their issues and concerns. In this effort, it strives to bring indigenous peoples together to take the lead in policy advocacy and campaigns on all issues affecting them. Tebtebba, a word used by the indigenous Kankana-ey Igorots of Northern Philippines, refers to a process of collectively discussing issues and presenting diverse views with the aim of reaching agreements, common positions, and concerted actions.

This event is sponsored by:

UNDP Equator Initiative - The Equator Initiative is designed to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt by fostering, supporting and strengthening community partnerships. Further information on the work of the Equator Initiative can be found here.

UNDP Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Division - The CSO Division, housed in the Bureau for Resources and Strategic Partnerships (BRSP), leads UNDP efforts to put into practice its commitment to partnerships with CSOs. The division is responsible for strengthening UNDP policies and procedural methods to collaborate more effectively and systematically with CSOs. Further information on the work of UNDPs CSO Division can be found here.