Eighth Round Capacity Building Workshop for Indigenous and Local Communities, the Caribbean region

The Secretary of Biodiversity in collaboration with the Network of Indigenous Women's Biodiversity (IWBN) from the Latin America and the Caribbean, thanks to the generous financial support from the Government of Spain, a regional capacity building workshop for indigenous and local community representatives on effective participation in CBD processes, with a specific focus on Article 8(j) and ABS .will be held in Georgetown, from 16-18 March 2011.

The workshop aims at building and strengthening capacity for indigenous and local community women in order to ensure their full and effective participation in CBD processes and also to grow and strengthen the number of indigenous and local community women who follow and are involved in CBD processes by enlarging networks and outreaching to new participants.

We are inviting interested indigenous and local community organizations from the countries of the Caribbean region to nominate representatives by sending to the Secretariat an expression of interest or nomination by means of an official letter of designation addressed to the attention of the Executive Secretary (fax +1 514 288 6588 or to email: secretariat@cbd.int with a recent curriculum vitae of the nominee by 15 January 2011, for consideration in the selection process.

Participants selected will be notified by mid-February. Successful applicants will be provided with economy air travel to and from Georgetown, and subsistence and accommodation costs during the event.

Source: CBD Secretariat

UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women Issues Annual Call for Proposals

United Nations, New York — The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) today launched its annual global Call for Proposals for programmes that support country-level efforts to end violence against women and girls. The criteria, eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available at www.unifem.org/untfevaw. The deadline for application is 20 January 2011.

See: http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=1191

Sub-Regional Meeting of Indigenous representatives from Canada, the United States and the Caribbean region

Dear Indigenous Peoples' Representatives,

Greetings from the Summits of the Americas Secretariat (SAS) of the Organization of American States (OAS). This Secretariat is pleased to announce, in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Inuit Circumpolar Council [ Canada ] (ICC), a Sub-regional Meeting with Indigenous Peoples' representatives from the English-speaking countries of the Americas to be held in Ottawa ,Canada, on Monday, December 13, 2010.

The main purpose of the Sub-Regional Meeting of Indigenous representatives from Canada, the United States and the Caribbean region is to provide an opportunity to follow-up on the implementation of the April 2009 Declaration and Plan of Action of the III Indigenous Leaders Summit of the Americas (III ILSA) "Implementing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas for Present and Future Generations" and the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the Inter-American System. It will also provide an opportunity to begin preparations for the IV ILSA in the context of the initial planning stages of the Sixth Summit of the Americas .

The Seminar will be open to the participation of anyone from the general public interested in this theme. If you would like to participate, please fill out the Registration Form and email it to amontilla@oas.org, with a copy to celestemckay@me.com, before December 8th, 2010. Please note that each participant must cover his/her own expenses.

For those who cannot attend the event, the Summit Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Summits Virtual Community (SVC) will be available for all those individuals interested in contributing to discussions. This Community offers its visitors the opportunity to register and participate in forums and discussion groups, as well as obtain materials, such as documents, videos, links, etc. In the SVC, the visitor can also share comments and opinions with other people who are interested in common themes. To participate in the Indigenous Peoples Group, please click here or visit: http://svc.summit-americas. org/groups .

Updated versions of the agenda and other relevant documents will be disseminated shortly. More information about this meeting will also be published in the Summits of the Americas Information Network at: www.summit-americas.org/cs_ meet.html and on the AFN's website at www.afn.ca.

For more information, please contact Andrea Montilla (AMontilla@oas.org or at 202.458.3347) or Celeste McKay (celestemckay@me.com or at 613.858.7070).

Kind regards,

Summits of the Americas Secretariat of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
Organization of American States (OAS)
Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)

This sub-regional event is made possible in part through the generous support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation

Extension of deadline for applications- Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Department of International Law informs you that the deadline for applications to be considered by the Selection Board in order to participate in the Meeting of Negotiations, which was initially planned to be today, Friday October 22nd, at 11:59 a.m., has been extended until next Friday, October 29 2010, at 1:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time).

In order to ensure the effective participation of the representatives of the indigenous peoples, the Department of International Law extends the invitation to apply to be able to participate in the “Thirteenth Meeting of Negotiations in the Quest for Points of Consensus” of the Working Group to Prepare the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

This Meeting will take place at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 18 to 20, 2011. It will be preceded by a meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus, to be held on January 15 to 16, 2011. Individuals selected are required to be in Washington, D.C., between Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 22, 2011.

The OAS will cover the cost of air fares, board and lodging of individuals selected.

Additional information about the requirements along with the corresponding sample documents may be found in the following link:

http://www.oas.org/dil/indigenous_peoples_Negotiations_XIII_Meeting_of_Negotiations.htm

We respectfully request to send all application to Ms. Veronica Alonso by e-mail (valonso@oas.org) or via fax to +1-202-458-3293.

Kind regards,
Department of International Law
Organization of American States

En Espanol: Cambio de plazo límite para la presentación de candidaturas - Proyecto de Declaración Americana sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas

It's not enough to support the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, says UN expert

The following statement has been issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya, to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

GENEVA - "The poorest among the poor, indigenous peoples continue to be at the margins of power and, in many cases, disregard of their basic human rights escalates into violence against them," said the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya, in commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

"However, they have preserved, generation after generation, an extraordinary wealth of knowledge, culture, and spirituality in the common benefit of humankind, contributing significantly to the world's diversity and environmental sustainability," the UN independent expert noted.

"Still, it is painfully apparent that historical patterns of oppression continue to manifest themselves in ongoing barriers to the full enjoyment of human rights by indigenous peoples," Mr. Anaya said. "Indigenous peoples continue to see their traditional lands invaded by powerful actors seeking wealth at their expense, thereby depriving them of life-sustaining resources."

These ongoing threats shed light on the need for a stronger commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples*, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007. It affirms the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination and equality, and to maintain their distinctive cultures within traditional territories. Since its adoption, the very few States that voted against it have changed or are in the process of reassessing their positions. Nevertheless, the human rights expert warned that a great deal remains to be done to see the objectives of the Declaration become a reality in the everyday lives of indigenous peoples.

"Today the Declaration remains more of a reminder of how far there is to go in bringing justice and dignity to the lives of indigenous peoples than a reflection of what has actually been achieved on the ground." The Special Rapporteur expressed his fear that the wide gap between the Declaration and its effective implementation will persist, leading to a certain complacency and acceptance of that condition: "This cannot be allowed to happen; the faithful implementation of the Declaration must be the focus of concerted attention by governments worldwide, the UN system, and other actors."

As part of this action, States should engage in comprehensive reviews of their existing legislation and administrative programs to identify where they may be incompatible with the Declaration. On the basis of such review, necessary legal and programmatic reforms should be developed and implemented, in consultation with indigenous peoples. Similarly, States should be committed to devoting significant human and financial resources to the measure required to implement the Declaration. These resources will typically be required for the demarcation and protection of indigenous lands, the development of culturally appropriate educational programs, support for indigenous self-governance institutions, and the many other measures contemplated by the Declaration.

The Special Rapporteur notes that many important measures have already been taken by States and other actors to implement the Declaration, and expresses his sincere hope is that such initiatives will take root much more broadly than they have to date, and that experiences will be shared to strengthen these initiatives.

"Implementing indigenous peoples' rights under the Declaration will bring historical justice to this too often ignored segment of humanity and help advance principles of equality, self-determination and respect for diversity, which that are basic tenets of the modern human rights system," Mr. Anaya said.

On 26 March 2008, the Human Rights Council appointed Professor S. James Anaya as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, for an initial period of three years. Professor Anaya is the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona (USA).

(*) Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElement

Source: www.un.org