Start Date : 27 Mar 07   End Date : 29 Mar 07 Location: UNECLAC, Santiago de Chile, Chile

Most indigenous people who migrate to urban areas live under difficult conditions characterised by lack or inadequate employment and access to services, and, very importantly, poor housing. Disrespect for a wide range of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as discrimination, are often the underlying causes for persisting poverty among these communities. Building on the findings and recommendations of an exploratory research initiative by the United Nations Housing Rights Programme (UNHRP) and the sessions of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), including a recent IOM/UNPFII-organised Expert Seminar on indigenous peoples and migration, the goal of this Expert Group Meeting is to contribute to improving the living conditions of urban indigenous peoples through: (i) consolidation of existing findings; (ii) generation of more comprehensive knowledge based on the latest research; and (iii) elaboration of relevant policy recommendations. The EGM is convened by UN-HABITAT and OHCHR within the framework of the UNHRP, jointly with the Secretariat of the UNPFII and the Latin America and the Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE) - ECLAC, and in cooperation with IOM. The EGM is supported by the Government of Canada.