From July 19 to 23, indigenous representatives convened at the 23rd session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) held in multiple sessions at United Nations headquarters in Geneva. Themed Indigenous Peoples and the International and Domestic Protection of Traditional Knowledge, indigenous delegates emphasized the importance of free, prior and informed consent prior to implementation of development projects in indigenous communities and pressed for the protection of indigenous social capital.
In the final days of the session, discussion centered on the recently documented plan to alter the structure of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) into a Human Rights Council. Many indigenous delegates were concerned that large structural change would not benefit indigenous communities. Details about the Human Rights Council are scheduled to be established at the 60th United Nations summit meeting in September.
