The second session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues begins on Monday, May 12, and will run until May 23 at the UN headquarters in New York. The Permanent Forum was convened for the first time last year, the culmination of years of discussions on the lack of an appropriate structure for addressing the concerns of indigenous peoples. The theme of this year’s session is “Indigenous Children and Youth”, focusing on the critical need for providing culturally appropriate education and healthcare for the younger generations of indigenous peoples. The session will be formally opened on May 12 with speeches by Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary for Economic and Social Affairs, Tadodaho Chief Sidney Hill of the Haudenosaunee and other members of the forum. For more information go to the Permanent Forum website (see link below).
