INDIGENOUS CHILDREN AND THE FIRST UN PERMANT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES

       I have been recalling the First Historical session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues when in May 2002 for the first time the UN open their doors to welcome the indigenous peoples from around the world. It just happen after the Special session on children (A world fit for children).

     It was a very special session and the most outstanding momentum was the Panel for indigenous children that Anna Pinto and myself organized in a couple of days, we realize that much discussion were into so many relevant issues but our focus, our mission of so many years has always been the indigenous children. I was inspired to put all efforts to bring members of Unicef and other panel speakers since days before I witness the encounter of Olandina Lopez a quiche girl that participated in the session of children in armed conflict situation I was her interpreter and together in a circle with more than 40 children they were all telling about the violence towards them children and specially the girl child.

The encounter of Olandina Lopez and Rigoberta Menchu another quiche survivor nobel peace prize from guatemala are vivid in my memory.

We organize a panel at the UN session and share with the entire audience about the lives of indigenous children, all their rights being not fullfilled in a world of abuses and violence, however the world vision of the indigenous populations is a vision of sharing, solidarity, peace and love for all your brothers and sisters.

Although in the drafting of the conclusions of the First Session of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous issues it was proposed 2004 as the year for the theme Indigenous children and youth, the decision was to establish the following year 2003 for the analysis and actions for the Indigenous children and youth.

However we are 2011 and there still a long way to go for the rights of the indigenous child to be a reality.

If someone from Guatemala reads this note I would be very grateful to know how is Olandina Lopez now, such a resilient  indigenous child.