| TekstiTämä on erikoisominaisuus.
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<P align="justify"> The UN Internati … <P align="justify"> The UN International Conference on Human Rights in 1993 approved a resolution to establish a permanent organ to deal with the affairs of indigenous peoples. The intention was that the organ should carry some weight and be able to deal comprehensively with issues concerning indigenous peoples. The Permanent Forum began operating in May 2002 at the UN Headquarters in New York. The forum is composed of sixteen independent experts, of whom a half are nominated by the member states of the UN and the other half by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) after consulting with the indigenous peoples f organizations. It serves as an advisory body within ECOSOC, and its powers include negotiating over matters related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. The Permanent Forum addresses advice and recommendations directly to ECOSOC and through the latter to various UN programmes, funds and offices. It increases general awareness of indigenous peoples and promotes the integration and coordination of their activities within the UN system. In addition it disseminates information about matters relating to indigenous peoples. The Forum and the [[Working group for indigenous populations (WGIP)|Working Group on Indigenous Peoples]] complement each other and the UN fs activities with regard to indigenous peoples. The former President of the Norwegian Saami Parliament, Prof. Ole Henrik Magga was elected chairman. at the first meeting of the Permanent Forum in May 2002. The first session dealt broadly with matters relating to the identity and rights of indigenous peoples. During the two-week session, several concrete initiatives were made to improve the position of indigenous peoples, such as getting the point of view of indigenous peoples better represented in the work of the special agencies of the UN by organizing seminars and having the members of the Forum invited to attend the meetings of the agencies. States were also urged to enter into a dialogue with indigenous people at the national level as well. The main decisions adopted by the Forum were connected with ensuring the establishment and funding of a permanent secretariat in New York from the UN fs regular budget. Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the UN, gave strong support to the Forum.
</P>ve strong support to the Forum.
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