6th International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity

Indigenes Peoples from around the world came together in Bonn, 15.-19.-10.2001. With Climate Alliance assistence they met for the 6th International Indigenous Forum on Biodiverisity in order to discuss common goals and objectives in preparation for the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing Convention on Biological Diversity, 22-26 October 2001 in Bonn. After 5 hard working days the indigenous people put a declaration forward which was read out at the opening plenary of the Working Group. The indigenous peoples concerns are the right to be increasingly recognized within national and international legal instruments, including self determination, rights to their lands, territories, customary legal systems, institutions, languages, cultural heritage, control over their own knowledge, their self development, and their free, prior and informed consent to any activity that affects their peoples. Pointed out was that indigenous peoples are rights holders-not mere stakeholders.

Statement of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity

During the Working Group on Access and Benefit- Sharing, from 22.-26.October 2001 the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity have put together a closing statement for the Working Group which was read out on the last day of the Convention on Biodiversity. This statements included their concern about full participation on the Convention on Biological Diversity. They felt there is not enough political will among some of the Parties. The concept stakeholder is not applicable to indigenous peoples and there will no consent of indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples aslo found that their recommendations were not taken into account on several important issues. These recommendations can be found as Annex on both statements.

Closing Statement of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity