OAS Announcement

UCTP Public Notice: The Thirteenth Meeting of Negotiations in the Quest for Points of Consensus on the draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was tentatively scheduled for March 30-April 3, 2009 has been postponed and will either be scheduled for April 27-May 1, 2009 or May 4-8, 2009. The dates will soon be confirmed by the OAS (Organization of American States).

UCTPPN 03.17.2009

International expert group meeting on the role of the UNPFII in the implementation of article 42 of the UN Indigenous Rights Delaration

International expert group meeting on the role of the UNPFII in the implementation of article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

United Nations Headquarters
14-16 January 2009

This Expert Group Meeting is being organized following a recommendation of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, approved by ECOSOC decision 2008/249, which authorized a three-day international expert group meeting on the implementation of Article 42 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and requested that the results of the meeting be reported to the Permanent Forum at its eighth session. The workshop will discuss the way in which the UNPFII should address its mandate under Article 42 of the Declaration.

The EGM will be attended by indigenous experts and UNPFII members as well as interested Member States, UN Agencies and Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. Interested parties should contact the Secretariat about participating in the EGM as observers. Please note that space in the conference room is limited and the Secretariat may not be able to accommodate all requests for participation.

Meeting documents are available at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/EGM_A42.html

Contact:

Carol Pollack
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development - Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

============================

Reunión internacional de expertos sobre la implementación del Artículo 42 de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas

Sede de las Naciones Unidas
10 Noviembre 2008

Esta reunión internacional de expertos se está organizando siguiendo una recomendación del Foro Permanente de la ONU para las Cuestiones Indígenas, aprobada por la decisión 2008/249 del ECOSOC, la cual autoriza una reunión de tres días de un grupo internacional de expertos sobre la aplicación del artículo 42 de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y pide que se informe al Foro de los resultados de la reunión en su octavo período de sesiones. La reunión analizará la manera en que el UNPFII debe abordar su mandato bajo el Artículo 42 de la Declaración.

En la reunión participarán expertos indígenas y miembros del UNPFII, así como también los Estados Miembros interesados, agencias de Naciones Unidas y organizaciones de pueblos indígenas. Los interesados deben contactar a la Secretaría para asistir a la reunión en calidad de observadores. Se les informa que el espacio en la sala de conferencias es limitado, y por lo tanto es posible que la Secretaría no pueda acomodar todos los pedidos de participación.

Los documentos de la reunión están disponibles en la pagina web del Foro Permanente: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/EGM_A42.html

Contact:

Carol Pollack
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development - Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

“There is no greater service that the United Nations could do today for its friends and partners in the indigenous community than to adopt the Declaration during the current Assembly session. The Declaration is, fundamentally, about respect for the rights of indigenous peoples. Let us make this respect manifest.”

UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang,
on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, August 2007

DOCUMENT AVAILABLE AT:

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/FAQsindigenousdeclaration.pdf

UN Declaration Assists Caribbean Indigenous Peoples

Belize (UCTP Taino News) - The Supreme Court of Belize, on October 18, uses the recently adopted United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples to justify its decision upholding the rights of Mayan People to their traditional lands.

See full article at: http://uctp.blogspot.com/

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

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

Historic Milestone for Indigenous Peoples Worldwide as UN Adopts Rights Declaration

New York, 13 September - Marking an historic achievement for the more than 370 million indigenous peoples worldwide, the General Assembly today adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the result of more than two decades of consultation and dialogue among governments and indigenous peoples from all regions.

"Today, by adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples we are making further progress to improve the situation of indigenous peoples around the world," stated General Assembly President Haya Al Khalifa.

"We are also taking another major step forward towards the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warmly welcomed the adoption, calling it "a triumph for indigenous peoples around the world."

He further noted that "this marks a historic moment when UN Member States and indigenous peoples reconciled with their painful histories and resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and development for all."

Adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2006, the Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations. It establishes an important standard for eliminating human rights violations against indigenous peoples worldwide and for combating discrimination and marginalization.

"The 13th of September 2007 will be remembered as an international human rights day for the Indigenous Peoples of the world, a day that the United Nations and its Member States, together with Indigenous Peoples, reconciled with past painful histories and decided to march into the future on the path of human rights," said Ms. Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The Declaration addresses both individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language and others. The Declaration explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative relations between States and Indigenous Peoples. It prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them.

Calling the Declaration "tangible proof of the increasing cooperation of States, Indigenous Peoples and the international community as a whole for the promotion and protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples", Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Sha Zukang said that the UN "has fulfilled its role as the world's parliament and has responded to the trust that Indigenous Peoples around the world placed in it, that it will stand for dignity and justice, development and peace for all, without discrimination."

The Declaration was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the General Assembly, with 143 countries voting in support, 4 voting against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstaining (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa, Ukraine).

To view a webcast of the General Assembly session, see:
www.un.org/webcast/ga.html

For more information on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please see:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html

For media enquiries, please contact: Renata Sivacolundhu,
Department of Public Information, tel: 212.963.2932, e-mail:
sivacolundhu@un.org

For Secretariat of the Permanent Forum,
please contact: Mirian Masaquiza,,
tel: 917.367.6006,
e-mail: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org

A Caribbean Indigenous Position on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2007
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

8:00 a.m. (est)

Ta’kahi Guaitiao (Greetings Relatives), on behalf of the Taíno People - the elders, children, women and men - represented by the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), and in solidarity with other Caribbean Indigenous Nations and organizations including The Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos (Puerto Rico); Caney Quinto Mundo (Puerto Rico); Kalinago Carib Nation (Dominica); Santa Rosa Carib Community (Trinidad); Joboshirima Lokono Arawak Community (Venezuela); Sanomaro Esa (Suriname); Eagle Clan Arawaks (Guyana/Barbados); Caney Indian Spiritual Circle (Cuba/U.S.); Presencia Taina (Puerto Rico/U.S.); Bohio Attabey Taino Women’s Circle (Puerto Rico/U.S.); Tainos Roca de Amor del Turey (Puerto Rico) and the Fundacion Luz Cosmica Taina (Dominican Republic), it is our hope that this message finds you well and in good Spirit.

On this historic day, the UCTP respectfully shares the following statement with regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

It is the view of the UCTP that Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will act upon today, Thursday September 13, 2007, contains many provisions that are acceptable to our diverse communities as well as several provisions that we cannot support.

While the UCTP recognizes and appreciates that the Declaration text contains provisions that uphold and affirm for example our right to self-determination, land and natural resources, free prior informed consent, Treaties, and other inherent rights, we also recognize and are greatly concerned that final changes to the text were completed without the direct participation of Indigenous Peoples.

With this in mind and recalling the great sacrifices of Indigenous Peoples who have worked tirelessly toward the adoption of a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples over the past 25 years, Caribbean Indigenous Peoples join in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives from around the world by not opposing the presentation of the modified text of the Declaration by the co-sponsoring states for adoption by the UNGA. This position is also based on the expressed commitment from the co-sponsors and African states to block any additional amendments which weaken or undermine the Declaration during the General Assembly vote or afterwards.

In addition, we express our profound appreciation to the many states, especially the Caribbean states, who will vote in support of the Declaration today. The UCTP will also note and call attention to those who will oppose it and we urge these states to re-consider their position in the spirit of partnership expressed in the theme of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

In closing, the UCTP, in solidarity with the leaders of Caribbean Indigenous Nations and organizations throughtout the region, looks forward to immediately undertaking the implementation of the Declaration, working in positive, harmonious collaboration with states and UN Bodies.

In the Spirit of Our Ancestors,
Roberto Múcaro Borrero,
President and Chairman,
UCTP Office of International Relations
and Regional Coordination

APA, GOIP expect gov't to back UN Indigenous Peoples rights declaration

APA, GOIP expect gov't to back UN Indigenous Peoples rights declaration

The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) and the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) said yesterday that they expect the Guyana Government to vote for the immediate adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13.

According to a joint APA/GOIP press release, the government has had a further opportunity to make its input to the Declaration and it was also on record as stating that "the Government of Guyana unequivocally supports the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the belief that such a document would strengthen global efforts to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples."

"We strongly believe that the Declaration which was already adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2006 represents the most important international instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights for indigenous peoples," the release stated.

And it noted also that indigenous peoples around the world have been lobbying their governments to support the adoption of the Declaration as this would be a major step towards eliminating the widespread human rights violations suffered by over 370 million indigenous peoples worldwide.

The APA and GOIP said further that they were aware that the Declaration which previously came up for consideration before the UN General Assembly in November 2006 was deferred to allow member states the opportunity to have further consultations. Since then a number of proposed amendments to the Declaration have been made, they said, and Guyana was among a group of seven states which had called for amendments to the Declaration.

The release also recalled statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an August 16 press release which said, among other things, that the deferral of the adoption of the Declaration provided "small states like Guyana with a significant Amerindian population to share views and make timely inputs on the text since Guyana which does not have a mission in Geneva was constrained in participating in the lengthy preparation of the Draft Declaration."

Source: Stabroek News, 7 Sept. 2007

PRESS CONFERENCE on Indigenous Rights Declaration

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

PRESS CONFERENCE on indigenous rights declaration

Indigenous peoples’ representatives, at a Headquarters press conference this morning, endorsed the amended text of the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and called for its adoption by consensus by the General Assembly next week.

Speaking to the press about the latest developments regarding the negotiations on the draft were: Les Malezer, Chair of the Global Indigenous Caucus; Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; and Joseph Ole Simel, Coordinator of the African Regional Indigenous Caucus.

The draft was forwarded to the Assembly following its approval by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006, and action on the text is expected on 13 September. Initially scheduled for November 2006, the adoption of the text was deferred, on a motion by African States, until the end of the Assembly’s current session in September 2007, so that further consultations could take place.

Mr. Malezer said that, presented with an agreement between the African Group and co-sponsors of the draft, the Steering Committee -- a body made up of representatives from seven regional groups -- had asked for indigenous peoples’ opinions on the Declaration and formed its response on the basis of those communications. While many of the indigenous peoples supported the amended Declaration, many others took the position not to oppose its adoption. Some felt strongly that they should not be bound by the process and emphasized the right of indigenous peoples to decide their own arrangements in their own time frame.

See full story at:
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2007/070906_Indigenous.doc.htm



UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Press Conference on Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Joseph Ole Simel, Coordinator of the African Regional Indigenous Caucus, responds to the amendments proposed by Member States to the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples during a press conference, at UN Headquarters in New York.

Location: United Nations, New York Date: 06 September 2007

Indigenous Peoples of Suriname Speak Out on UN Declaration

Paramaribo, 10 August 2007

To: the President of the Republic of Suriname
Drs R.R. Venetiaan
Paramaribo - Suriname

Esteemed President,

By means of this letter, the Organization of Indigenous People in Suriname (OIS) requests your attention for the following:

The day of August 9 is declared by the government to be “National Day of Indigenous People” and is at the same time declared a national holiday.

Assigning this day to the original inhabitants of Suriname – known to you all as Indigenous, called Indians before – was applauded very much by us, as an organization that attends to the interests of this group.

We have experienced this gesture towards the Indigenous community as a very positive one and have seen this in the light of recognition of our people within the Surinamese population.

But, to our big surprise we have learned only a few days after the proclamation of this day, both in the national media and also from our international contacts, that the state of Suriname has voted against acceptance of the “Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” during the consultation round at the United Nations.

Because of this act of the state of Suriname, which works against the rights of the Indigenous Peoples all over the world but especially against the rights of the Indigenous People in Suriname, we as representatives of the Indigenous People in Suriname must conclude that we, Indigenous People, still will have a very long way to go in order to go get recognition of the rights and titles to our lands, etc.

The OIS sees this act of the state of Suriname as a failure to appreciate the position of the Indigenous People, because the state of Suriname being also the only country in the western hemisphere that still has not ratified ILO Convention 169.

On behalf of the Indigenous People of Suriname and also on behalf of our Indigenous brothers and sisters everywhere else in the world, we want to call on you as President to take case that Suriname will vote in favor of the “Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” during the vote on September 3 in the United Nations.

Since you have expressed in your speech in Palm Garden on the 9th of August 2007, that you really recognize the Indigenous People, we as Indigenous People would really appreciate if you would convert your words in this respect into deeds.

The Organization of Indigenous People in Suriname,
Leon Ericson Wijngaarde
(President)

GUYANA TAKES RETRORADE STEP ON UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Joint GOIP/APA Press Release

GUYANA TAKES RETRORADE STEP ON UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

As Guyana and the rest of the world commemorate another International Day of Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2007, the Guyanese Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) and the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) are calling on the Government of Guyana to vote for the approval of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Declaration) when it again comes before the UN General Assembly next month.

We are extremely disappointed to learn that Guyana has joined with six other states namely Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Russia and Surinam in asking for the Declaration which represents over two decades of expert and rigorous effort involving states and indigenous peoples to be redrafted. This represents a most retrograde step on the part of Guyana and those states which have taken this position. We are dismayed that Guyana has aligned itself with this small group of states which are proposing that one-sided changes are made to a vital document that constitutes the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples.

We gravely concerned about this development taking into consideration that GOIP had written to His Excellency President Jagdeo on February 7, 2007, requesting that Guyana endorse the Declaration. In a response dated June 14, 2007, the Honourable Minister of Amerindian Affairs stated that the Government of Guyana “is fully supportive of a process that would result in a Declaration that is unambiguous, preserves national unity and ultimately improve the lot of the world’s indigenous peoples.”

GOIP and APA are convinced that the Declaration which was adopted by the Human Rights Council of the UN in June 2006 represents the most important international instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights for indigenous peoples which fits the criteria that the Government says it is supportive of. We are therefore dismayed that the Government has suddenly taken this extreme position.

The GOIP and APA hereby urge the Government to reconsider its position and support the adoption of the Declaration in its present form.

GOIP Executive Committee,
APA Executive Committee,
7th August, 2007