E/2012/27 E/CN.6/2012/16 Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 44 which addresses their individual and collective rights, Stressing the importance of promoting and pursuing the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples also through international cooperation in supporting national and regional efforts to achieve the ends of the Declaration, including the right to maintain and strengthen the distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions of indigenous peoples and the right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State, Recalling its resolution 49/7, entitled “Indigenous women: beyond the ten-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, which calls upon Governments, intergovernmental agencies, the private sector and civil society to take measures that ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous women in all aspects of society, Affirming that indigenous women represent a wide variety of cultures and traditions with different needs and concerns and contribute to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures around the world, Stressing the importance of recognizing the distinct and crucial contribution of indigenous women, their knowledge and their vital roles in diverse local economies to poverty eradication, food security and sustainable development, Recognizing that a significant number of smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs in developing regions are women, including indigenous women, and that they play a vital role in agricultural and rural development, including by enhancing food security and nutrition for their communities and families, Recognizing also that the involvement, perspectives and traditional knowledge of indigenous women make an important contribution to sustainable development and the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, such as land, forests, water, seeds and coastal seas, Expressing deep concern about the increasing feminization of poverty, emphasizing that the empowerment of women, including indigenous women, is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty and that the implementation of special measures aimed at empowering women can help to achieve this objective, and recognizing that poverty of women, including indigenous women, is directly related, inter alia, to the absence of economic opportunities and of autonomy, lack of access to economic resources, lack of access to education and support services, and minimal participation in the decision-making process, Concerned about the extreme disadvantages that indigenous peoples, in particular indigenous women, have typically faced across a range of social and economic indicators and the impediments to their full enjoyment of their rights, Concerned also that the adverse impacts of climate change on women and girls, including indigenous women, can be exacerbated by gender inequality, discrimination and poverty, __________________ 44 12-27405 General Assembly resolution 61/295, annex. 23