Madam Chairperson, dear distinguished members of the Permanent
Forum, Member State Representatives, ladies and gentlemen,
colleagues, and special guests,

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is pleased to
participate in this fifth session of the Permanent Forum. Listening
to the statements at the opening ceremony of the fifth session
yesterday, it was apparent that there exists a broad intersection
of issues which affect both migrants and indigenous peoples –
human rights, displacement, cultural identities and traditional
ways of living, poverty, effective participation and inclusion into
culturally sensitive legislation and policies. These issues are
particularly meaningful for IOM because they are part of the nexus
between indigenous peoples and migration, and they have not
received sufficient attention by the international community.

At its third session in May 2004, the Permanent Forum
recommended launching a new initiative, to include IOM and other
stakeholders, to address issues relating to the large number of
indigenous migrants within and beyond national borders and the
particular vulnerability of indigenous women migrants, as well as
the lack of adequate data and attention to their problems. As a
response, IOM and the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum jointly
organized an Expert Workshop on Indigenous Peoples and Migration.
Therefore, we are pleased to introduce, with the Secretariat of the
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Report of the Expert
Workshop on Indigenous Issues and Migration which was hosted by IOM
at its headquarters in Geneva, on 6-7 April 2006. This report is
available as a conference room paper for this fifth session,
specifically CRP.5.

Distinguished Members of the Forum,

This expert workshop marked the first expert-level meeting on
the nexus between indigenous peoples and migration. The primary
goal was to map out the area and to identify the key challenges and
opportunities relating to the migration of indigenous peoples. The
meeting brought together over 30 participants, including
representatives and experts from several of the socio-cultural
regions of the world including Africa, the Arctic and Europe, Asia,
Central and South America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific as
well as representatives from international agencies and observers
from Member States.

This expert workshop was significant given that these two topics
– indigenous peoples and migration – have not yet been
consistently and systemically discussed within the same framework.
We felt that this was the year and this was the initial opportunity
to heighten attention on the social and political significance of
indigenous peoples and migration. This fall, the General
Assembly’s 61st Session will host a High-Level Dialogue on
International Migration and Development which is an opportunity not
to be missed to inject indigenous issues and concerns within this
debate at the highest level possible. Identifying the challenges
and responses thereto, while also exploring avenues of cooperation
amongst UN agencies, organizations and indigenous communities are
necessary steps to be taken in exploring the nexus of indigenous
peoples and migration.

Though the intent of this workshop was to provide a first-time
forum on the issues on indigenous peoples and migration, the
experts were indeed able to provide a number of recommendations
regarding state responsibility, information sharing, the role of
international organizations and agencies, and specific
recommendations for the upcoming High-Level Dialogue. The
conference room paper available at this session further details
these recommendations, but we would like to highlight the
recommendations made for the upcoming High-Level Dialogue along
with recommendations for international organizations and UN
agencies.

The experts emphasized that special focus should be given to
indigenous peoples, by not only addressing the economic and social
effects of indigenous migration, but also its cultural impact.
Because many indigenous peoples have strong community bonds, their
migration has a broader impact than on individual migrants alone.
Indigenous migration therefore has a collective impact because such
migration affects the entire community. For example, during the
workshop some experts noted that for some indigenous peoples, their
emigration from their community resulted in severing their
community links. Additionally, migration of others onto indigenous
territories can also result in the loss of traditional livelihoods
and ways of living which impact the community as a whole.

But migration of indigenous peoples was also discussed as a
potentially positive element for the development and sustenance of
indigenous communities which should be further explored. The
emphasis on community values of indigenous peoples may place
indigenous peoples at an advantage by adding value to the
development process. The community organization of many indigenous
peoples may help cultivate the impact of remittances and may also
aid in the transfer of skills circulating throughout the entire
community. When they do migrate out of their communities,
indigenous peoples can promote their indigenous social and cultural
capital in their destination countries or communities, at the same
time furthering international attention to, and knowledge and
interest in, indigenous peoples. Consider, for example, the
presence and interaction of the many indigenous groups here with
Member States, NGOs and international organizations during this two
week session. Indigenous migrants may also encourage increased
governme tal consultation with indigenous communities on national
laws and projects which may impact their lands. In essence,
voluntary indigenous migrants may offer opportunities to their home
communities that may not have otherwise occurred.

Finally, as a recommendation for the High-level Dialogue on
International Migration and Development, the experts called for the
effective implementation of international law at the national level
for the protection of indigenous peoples. It was further emphasized
that indigenous leaders and a diversity of actors participate in
processes to have culturally sensitive laws extend to indigenous
peoples. For international organizations and UN agencies, further
interagency cooperation and collaboration was recommended
particularly to provide more data and resources for carrying out
case studies on indigenous peoples and migration. Of particular
significance, is the recommendation of creating a task force to
specifically address migration issues of indigenous peoples within
the existing Inter-Agency Support Group of the Permanent Forum.
Such a task force could assist with studies being led by indigenous
leaders or experts, and also promote capacity building projects
dealing with the migration of indigenous peoples. Its focus could
be to share information and ideas, improve understanding and make
effective linkages between the work of all interagency members.
Given the importance of migration, and its further complexity with
respect to indigenous peoples, a proposed task force on migration
within the current Inter-Agency Support Group of the Permanent
Forum could provide much-needed resources to indigenous
peoples.

Madam Chair, Distinguished Members of the Forum,

As this workshop has proved, it is evident that the nexus
between migration and indigenous people warrants further
international attention. In advance of this year’s High Level
Dialogue on International Migration and Development, IOM stands
ready to continue addressing this issue.

Thank you for your attention.