Indigenous peoples forum within UN suggested.

• Position: Includes information on September 6-10, 1993 meeting of UN and Arctic and Siberian indigenous peoples representatives

The creation of a permanent forum within the UN system to better protect the intellectual and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples has been suggested by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

That decision was among the 57 texts adopted by the 26-member body at its forty-fifth session (Geneva, 2-27 August). Four texts specifically concerned the rights of indigenous populations, whose plight was being highlighted by the observation in 1993 of the International Year for the World's indigenous Peoples.

The Subcommission, the main subsidiary of the Commission on Human Rights, continued work on a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. It also endorsed the proposed proclamation by the General Assembly of an international Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, beginning January 1994, and recommended the holding of a seminar on indigenous land rights and claims.

Appreciation was expressed for the Special Rapporteur's study on the protection of the cultural and intellectual property of indigenous peoples. A second progress report was asked on the study on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous populations.

Slavery, social rights

On contemporary form of slavery, the Subcommission asked for an updated report on child labour, and expressed grave concern at the persistence and development of sex tourism. A Special Rapporteur was asked to make an in-depth study of the situation of systematic. rape, sexual slavery and slavery-like practices during wartime, taking account, among other things, of the human rights situation in the former Yugoslavia.

In the field of economic, social and cultural rights, the Subcommission encouraged Governments to: pursue effective policies aimed at full realization of the right to adequate housing; take measures designed to close existing gaps in the distribution of income; and eliminate the practice of forced evictions.

It also noted a report that found that population transfer was unlawful and violated a number of human rights, and approved a Special Rapporteur's proposal to hold a seminar on the topic of "Extreme poverty and denial of human rights".

The Subcommission appealed to all States to take measures to promote the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, especially in areas of armed conflict.

Country considerations

The situation in the former...