The Vanuatu Indigenous Peoples’ Forum was held at Lavatmagemu village in north-east Pentecost island from the 20th to the 26th of April 2007. The Forum brought together 500 participants, mostly from Pentecost island but also including customary and community representatives from many other islands, the Director and staff members of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the Secretary General of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, the Director of the Vanuatu National Cultural Council, representatives of a number of Port Vila-based NGOs and other observers. Key attendees included the President of the Republic, H.E. Kalkot Matas Kelekele Ma’auliliu, the Prime Minister, Hon. Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, the President of PENAMA Province, Steven Sau, a representative of the British High Commission to Vanuatu, Jeremy Hodges, and the Pacific representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Michael Dodson. The Forum proper was preceeded by a one-day “Traditional Economy Trade Show”. Sponsors of the Forum included the Tanbunia Kastom Bank, NISCOL, CUSO-Vanuatu and the British High Commission. The Forum was hosted in Lavatmagemu village by the Melanesian Institute of Philosophy, Science and Technology.
The Vanuatu Indigenous Peoples’ Forum was intended as a lead-in to the 6th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which had as its theme “Land, territories and resources”. The resolutions of the Vanuatu Indigenous Peoples’ Forum were finalised as the Lavatmagemu Dekleresen 2007 (Long Saed Blong Kantri, Kraon Mo Najerel Risos), parts of which were then presented (in the month of May) to the 6th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York by the Forum’s representative to this meeting, Motarilavoa Hilda Lini.
Download the Lavatmagemu Dekleresen 2007
Download the Forum’s Statement to the 6th Session of the UNPFII (extracted from the Lavatmagemu Dekleresen 2007)
Download the Forum’s Statement to the 6th Session of the UNPFII on “Human Rights”
Download the Forum’s Statement to the 6th Session of the UNPFII on “Social and Economic Development”
