The 2003 Forum Conference is titeled “Indigenous Rights: Focus on the UN system and cases from Asia”. This years conference has two sessions. During the first session speakers are asked to give a critical assessment of how indigenous issues have been addressed through the UN system, and discuss the status of The working group for Indigenous Peoples, the Draft Declaration, and the newly established Forum for Indigenous Issues.
Main speakers:

• Rodolfo Stavenhagen. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous peoples.
• Martin Scheinin. Member of the Human Rights Committee, established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: “Economic sustainability and development as an element of indigenous peoples’ rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”.
• Ole Henrik Magga. Leader UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

In the second session speakers will address the situation of indigenous peoples in Asia. Main speakers:

• Chandra Roy: “Impact of Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts: Ways forward”
• Wiveca Stegeborn: “Understanding Human Rights: Barriers in understanding and communication between the Wanniyala-Aetto of Sri Lanka and the international community”.

Additionally, there will be room for other current issues under the headline “Forum update”.

The conference languages will be saami, Scandinavian and English.