Hill Voice, April 15, 2024, International Desk: The 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is going to be started from Monday (April 15) at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The opening ceremony of the 23rd session will be held at 11:00 am New York time (at 9:00 pm BST).

This session starts from 15th April and will continue till 26th April. The main theme of the 23rd session is “Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous youth”.

Priti B Chakma and Chanchana Chakma will be participating in this session as representatives of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS). Besides, Augustina Chakma from Canada and Manojit Chakma from USA will participate. Meanwhile, Chandra Tripura, Tony Chiran, Rajkumari Ayetri Roy, Twisa Tripura and other indigenous representatives from Bangladesh are excepted to be attending.

Like every year, a team of representatives of the Bangladesh government will be participating in the session. Secretary of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs Ministry Md. Moshiur Rahman and Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Supradip Chakma are known to be among the delegation.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established on 28 July 2000 by resolution 2000/22, with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social deleopment, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

The forum usually holds a two-week session in April each year at the UN headquarters. Indigenous representatives participate as observers in the session. Besides, government representatives, representatives of UN specialized agencies, academics, human rights activists participate as observers.