Voluntary funds
The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations is administered by OHCHR on behalf of the Secretary-General, with the advice of a Board of Trustees. The Fund was established pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 40/131 of 13 December 1985, 50/156 of 21 Decem- ber 1995 and 53/130 of 9 December 1998 . The purpose of the Fund is to assist representatives of indigenous communities and organizations partici- pate in the deliberations of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the open-ended inter-sessional Working Group on the “UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” and the open-ended inter-sessional ad hoc Working Group of the Permanent Forum, by providing them with financial assistance, funded by means of voluntary contributions from Governments, non- governmental organizations and other private or public entities. For application forms and guidelines, contact the Trust Funds Unit of SSB/OHCHR on fax (41 22) 9179017 and for further information see: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/9/vfindige.htm
The Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People was established pursuant to General Assembly resolu-