Indigenous Peoples Heritage Values Geneva Workshop

The workshop enabled a constructive dialogue between Indigenous experts and representatives of UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention’s Advisory Bodies, the three UN mechanisms on Indigenous Peoples, UN human rights mandate holders, in order to remedy the lack of recognition of Indigenous peoples and their values in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

The workshop enabled indigenous experts to gather and discuss effective changes to their processes in the presence of UN mechanisms on Indigenous Peoples and human rights.

The workshop enabled a constructive dialogue between Indigenous experts and representatives of UNESCO and its advisory bodies in relation to recognising and protecting indigenous heritage and associated traditional knowledge and enabled a Māori view to be represented.

Xavier was named Technical Advisor to the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage (IIPFWH) and is involved in drafting the Outcome Statement of the workshop that was commissioned by the World Heritage Committee, that includes a number of recommendations for actions to improve the recognition of Indigenous Peoples in the operations of the World Heritage Convention.

As a result of the Workshop the National Commission for UNESCO, Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage now have a link to IIPFWH and to the new indigenous advocacy group in world heritage processes.