The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples concluded its third session. The session took place from 12 to 16 July 2010, at the United Nations Office in Geneva. The Expert Mechanism is a new United Nations mechanism on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and was created by the Human Rights Council to continue the work of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 2007. This year’s session focused on the right to participate in decision-making.
The Expert Mechanism is composed of five experts and provides thematic expertise and advice on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to the Human Rights Council, the main human rights body of the United Nations. The thematic expertise is done mainly through studies and research-based advice. To date it has worked so far on two studies, on the right of indigenous peoples to education and on the right to participate in decision-making. The United Nations Human Rights office (OHCHR) services the Expert Mechanism and also provides technical and financial support to the Mechanism.
States, Indigenous representatives, UN bodies and specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations, regional human rights organizations, national human rights institutions, academics, and experts on Indigenous issues, and NGOs can attend the Mechanism’s annual session as observers.
