DISPOSSESSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF ANCESTRAL LANDS

General Assembly
GA/SHC/3891
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
22 October 2007
Sixty-second General Assembly
Third Committee
19th Meeting (AM)

GLOBAL WARMING, INCREASING EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DISPOSSESSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF ANCESTRAL LANDS
Small Number of Isolated Communities at Risk of Physically Disappearing

Despite recent progress, as seen in new norms and institutions as well as policies at all levels addressing the rights of the world’s indigenous peoples, there was still an “implementation gap” between those norms and practice, and a number of negative trends vis-à-vis that marginalized population, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it held its discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples.

“Extractive activities, large commercial plantations and non-sustainable consumption patterns have led to widespread pollution and environmental degradation,” Rodolfo Stavenhagen, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, told the Committee today as he presented the findings of his recent studies. The end result, he said, was that indigenous peoples, whose lives were closely linked to their lands, were dramatically affected by such trends, which had in turn led to their forced displacements.

In addition, Mr. Stavenhagen continued, various Arctic peoples were now suffering the direct consequences of global warming. And further compounding all of the negatives already cited was the criminalization of the social organizations of indigenous peoples which defended their rights. That by itself had generated new human rights violations, he observed.

The Special Rapporteur underscored that the decrease of territory belonging to indigenous peoples had been intensified by the dynamics of the globalized economy and its attendant increase in water and energy exploitation. A small number of isolated communities were actually at risk of physical disappearance because of those trends, he warned.

Many delegates mentioned the landmark status of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in enumerating the rights of that marginalized population, and reiterated their hopes that countries would work faithfully towards its implementation. Through the Declaration, many said that the international community had begun repayment of a historic debt to indigenous peoples.

See full article at:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/gashc3891.doc.htm

Appointment of new Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples

Dear friends,

This is to inform you that, during its last session in September 2007, the Human Rights Council (HRC) decided upon the criteria for the nomination for special procedures mandate-holders (decision 6-102, only available in English). These criteria, as well as the procedure that was formally adopted by the HRC at its June session (Resolution 5/1), will guide the replacement of those mandate-holders who have already completed their 6 year-term. This includes the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.

Appointment procedure

As adopted by the Council, the new nomination procedure includes the following phases:

a) Preparation of a public list of eligible candidates by the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

b) Proposition of short list of candidates to the President by a Consultative Group (appointed by the Regional Groups)

c) Presentation of candidates by the President to the HRC.

d) Endorsement of candidates by the HRC.

Requirements

According to the list of technical and objective requirements adopted by the HRC, candidates should meet the following requirements:

a) Qualifications: relevant educational qualifications or equivalent professional experience in the field of human rights; good communications skills in one of the official languages of the United Nations.

b) Relevant expertise: knowledge of international human rights instruments, norms and principles; as well as knowledge of institutional mandates related to the United Nations or other international or regional organization's work in the area of human rights; proven work experience in the field of human rights.

c) Established competence: nationallity, regionally or internationally recognized competence related to human rights.

d) Flexibility, readiness and availability of time to perform effectively the fhe functions of the mandate and to respond to its requirements, including attending Human Rights Council sessions.
Submission of eligible candidates

It is important to note that the candidatures for special procedures mandates may be submitted by Governments, regional groups, international organizations (incl. OHCHR), non-governmental organizations, other human rights bodies, and individuals [Note that academic institutions cannot as such submit candidates, but only academics or their individual capacity].

The names of the candidates should reach the Secretariat at the following address: hrcspecialprocedures@ohchr.org (mailing address HRC Secretariat, c/o Orest Nowosad, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right, Room PW 4-903, UNOG, CH 1211 Geneva; fax: +41(0)22 917 90 11)

Timing

The new Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people is expected to be appointed by the HRC during its 7th session in March 2008. The Consultative Groups will submit the short list of candidates to the President by the beginning of February 2008 and will consult the public list of candidates in the weeks before. All relevant stakeholders are thus invited to submit their candidates at their earliest convenience.

Luis Rodríguez-Piñero Royo
Human Rights Officer
Special Procedures Branch
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Tel. + 41 - 22 917 91 34; fax + 41 - 22 917 60 10
Email: lrodriguez-pinero@ohc

Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People

Dear friends,

Please find below two important news concerning the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.

A. Renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people

On 28 September 2007, the Human Rights Council, during its sixth session, decided to renew for an additional period of three years the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people. The unedited version of the relevant resolution, so far only available in English, is attached, along with a copy of the Special Rapporteur's oral statement to the Council.

The Council's new resolution, whose unedited version is attached, reaffirms and reinforces the Special Rapporteur's mandate as described in previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, in areas such as the Special Rapporteur's official visits, communications, and annual reporting.

The Council's resolution further includes a number of important innovations in relationship to previous resolutions, including the following:

- The resolution entrusts the Special Rapporteur with the follow-up of the recently adopted UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, along with other relevant international standards.

- The resolution invites the Special Rapporteur to work in close cooperation with the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and to
participate in its annual session.

- The resolution invites the Special Rapporteur to identify, exchange and promote best practices in the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.

- The resolution calls the Special Rapporteur to pay a particular attention to the situation of indigenous women and children, and to apply a gender perspective in his/her work.

The current mandate-holder, Mr Rodolfo Stavenhagen from Mexico, will finish his term at Council's resumed session in December 2007, when he will also present his final report. In order to avoid a protection gap, he will retain the mandate until the appointment of the new mandate-holder, initially expected in March 2008.

B. Report to the UN General Assembly

On 22 October 2007, the Special Rapporteur will present his fourth annual report to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The report, now available in all UN official languages, presents an interim description of the activities carried out this year by the Special Rapporteur. In addition, the Special Rapporteur's report includes a number of general considerations on the situation of indigenous peoples in Asia, a region to which the Special Rapporteur has devoted a special attention during the last year.

Melanie Clerc
Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Unit
UN Voluntary Fund on Indigenous Populations
UN Voluntary Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office Motta 2.06
1211 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 928 9737
Fax: +41 22 928 9010