NEW YORK - At the 12th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the World Bank announced that it will conduct a comprehensive dialogue with indigenous peoples beginning July. The dialogue will inform the review process for updating the Bank’s safeguard policies that includes the indigenous peoples policy OP 4.10.
Luis Felipe Duchicela, senior advisor on indigenous peoples, said the planning for this dialogue began in March, and the methodology has been agreed upon with the indigenous peoples in the various regions of the world. He also announced that the World Bank will establish an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council to meet the request made to the Bank during last year's session of the Permanent Forum. The Advisory Council would help improve communication and coordination between the Bank and indigenous peoples and ensure implementation of policies and strategies.