The United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues says more needs to be done to protect indigenous peoples' land rights and to improve their health.
The forum's Special Rapporteur says indigenous rights continue to be violated.
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The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN in 2007 to officially recognise the injustices suffered by indigenous people around the world.
Six years on, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya says much remains to be done to see the objectives of the declaration become reality.
In particular, Mr Anaya says more needs to be done about indigenous land rights in areas rich with natural resources.
"I have devoted special attention to examining the issue of extractive industries that operate within or near indigenous territories. I have found that indigenous peoples around the world have suffered negative, even devastating consequences from extractive industries in many places."
Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Paul Kanyinke Sena says there are numerous examples in Africa of extractive industries encroaching on indigenous territories.
"There's a lot of interest now in Africa. We see a lot of oil and gas in especially the East African regions being discovered and all this is being found in indigenous peoples' territories."
James Anaya says despite negative past experiences, many indigenous communities are still willing to welcome miners and energy companies onto their land.
"Indigenous people should be able to choose whether or not extraction goes forward on their territories but we can't simply assume that indigenous peoples need to or always want to say 'no', even though that's been much of the focus. What we need to talk about is how indigenous peoples can get to a sustainable agreement that's in their interests."
Mr Anaya says indigenous people must be able to gain benefit from mining and energy companies operating on their land.
"There is a need for greater understanding by states and industry actors about the content and implications of indigenous peoples' rights in this context and for the development of new business models for resource extraction that are respectful of indigenous peoples' rights and conducive to development opportunities that are genuinely beneficial to them."
Indigenous health is another major area of concern for the UN Indigenous Forum.
Chairman Sena says the life expectancy of indigenous people around the world remains well below that of their non-indigenous counterparts.
"In Australia the difference is about 17 years, in Canada the difference is seven years, and in New Zealand, Pacific Islanders and Maoris are ten times more likely to get tuberculosis compared to others living in the country."
Forum member Myrna Cunningham says the health of indigenous women needs particular attention.
She says an expert UN meeting early next year will address some of the key issues.
"We hope we can address issues like maternal mortality rate that is the highest among indigenous women in the different countries. We will address the issues of sexual and abusive violence against indigenous women. We will address the fact that although governments have increased accessibility of health facilities, they still do not address the specific needs of indigenous women."
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