Fact Sheet No.9
(Rev.1), The Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(About
Fact Sheets)
An objective of the
Decade is the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous
people and their empowerment to make choices which enable them to
retain their cultural identity while participating in political,
economic and social life, with full respect for their cultural
values, languages, traditions and forms of social organization.
PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF THE
WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE (1995-2004) (para. 4),
General Assembly resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995, annex.
Introduction
Indigenous peoples
inhabit large areas of the earth's surface. Spread across the world
from the Arctic to the South Pacific, they number, at a rough
estimate, some 300 million. Indigenous or aboriginal peoples are
so-called because they were living on their lands before settlers
came from elsewhere; they are the descendants - according to one
definition - of those who inhabited a country or a geographical
region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic
origins arrived, the new arrivals later becoming dominant through
conquest, occupation, settlement or other means.
Among many indigenous
peoples are the Indians of the Americas (for example, the Mayas of
Guatemala or the Aymaras of Bolivia), the Inuit and Aleutians of the
circumpolar region, the Saami of northern Europe, the Aborigines and
Torres Strait Islanders of Australia, and the Maori of New Zealand.
These and most other indigenous peoples have retained social,
cultural, economic and political characteristics which are clearly
distinct from those of the other segments of the national
populations.
Throughout human
history, whenever dominant neighbouring peoples have expanded their
territories or settlers from far away have acquired new lands by
force, the cultures and livelihoods - even the existence - of
indigenous peoples have been endangered. The threats to indigenous
peoples' cultures and lands, to their status and other legal rights
as distinct groups and as citizens, do not always take the same
forms as in previous times. Although some groups have been
relatively successful, in most part of the world indigenous peoples
are actively seeking recognition of their identities and ways of
life.
As of March 1997, 15
organizations of indigenous peoples have consultative status with
the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Consultative status entitles them to attend and contribute to a wide
range of international and intergovernmental conferences. These
organizations are: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission,
Asociación Kunas Unidos por Nabguana, Four Directions
Council, Grand Council of the Crees (of Quebec), Indian Council of
South America, Indian Law Resource Centre, Indigenous World
Association, International Indian Treaty Council, International
Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, Inuit Circumpolar
Conference, National Aboriginal and Islander Legal Services
Secretariat, National Indian Youth Council, Saami Council, Sejekto
Cultural Association of Costa Rica, and World Council of Indigenous
Peoples. In addition, hundreds of representatives of other
indigenous peoples and their organizations participate in United
Nations meetings, in particular those of the Working Group on
Indigenous Populations. Non-governmental organizations with general
human rights interests actively contribute to work in the field of
indigenous peoples' rights, in addition to supporting indigenous
peoples' causes.
In spite of cultural and
ethnic diversity, there are often striking similarities between the
problems, grievances and interests of the various indigenous peoples
and therefore in their presentations to international forums.
Participation of indigenous communities and organizations in United
Nations meetings has served to highlight these similarities.
It has often been the
case - particularly since the emergence of new nations in the wave
of decolonization which followed the Second World War - that
indigenous peoples insist on retaining their separate identity and
cultural heritage. It is now generally admitted that policies of
assimilation and integration aimed at bringing these groups fully
into the mainstream of majority populations are often
counter-productive.
Non-governmental
activity, on the one hand, and intergovernmental initiatives, on the
other, have had a mutually reinforcing effect. The first
international conference of non-governmental organizations on
indigenous issues was held in Geneva in 1977. This was followed by
another non-governmental conference on indigenous peoples and the
land, also in Geneva, in 1981. These meetings, and a special United
Nations study then nearing completion, influenced developments which
led to the establishment in 1982 of the United Nations Working Group
on Indigenous Populations.
In the United Nations
and the International Labour Organization, it is recognized that the
establishment and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples are
an essential part of human rights and a legitimate concern of the
international community. The two organizations are active in the
setting and implementing of standards designed to ensure respect for
existing rights of indigenous peoples and the adoption of additional
rights. This Fact Sheet deals briefly with the present work
of the United Nations, its evolution, and plans for future action to
promote and safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples everywhere.
Study of
discrimination against indigenous peoples
In the 1920s, American
Indians approached the League of Nations. Their visit to Geneva
attracted considerable attention, but there were no tangible
results. In the early years of the United Nations, indigenous
peoples' representatives made sporadic appeals to the world
Organization. There was no specific reaction. A Bolivian Government
initiative in the United Nations in 1948 to create a subcommission
to study the social problems of aboriginal populations also came to
nothing.
Since its establishment,
the United Nations has, nevertheless, as part of its overall human
rights work, addressed some situations which affect indigenous
peoples. The concerns of indigenous peoples find their place in a
number of instruments and studies prepared over the years, and in
the activities of human rights organs dealing, for example, with
minorities, slavery, servitude and forced labour.
A turning-point came in
1970, when the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and
Protection of Minorities recommended that a comprehensive study be
made of the problem of discrimination against indigenous
populations. In 1971, Mr. José R. Martínez Cobo (Ecuador) was
appointed Special Rapporteur for the study, which was to suggest
national and international measures for eliminating such
discrimination. His final report(1)
was submitted to the Sub-Commission during the years 1981-1984.
The Special Rapporteur
addressed a wide range of human rights issues. They included a
definition of indigenous peoples, the role of intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, the elimination of discrimination,
and basic human rights principles, as well as special areas of
action in fields such as health, housing, education, language,
culture, social and legal institutions, employment, land, political
rights, religious rights and practices, and equality in the
administration of justice. His conclusions, proposals and
recommendations are an important milestone in United Nations
consideration of the human rights problems facing indigenous
peoples; many are still under consideration and others have been
incorporated in resolutions of the Sub-Commission.
Working Group on
Indigenous Populations
The study by Mr. Martínez
Cobo, the interest generated in the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, and the support of
non-governmental organizations led in 1982 to the creation by the
Economic and Social Council of the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations. The Working Group is a subsidiary organ of the
Sub-Commission. Its five members (2)
- one from each geopolitical region of the world - are independent
experts and are members of the Sub-Commission.
The Working Group meets
for one week immediately before the annual session of the
Sub-Commission in Geneva. The Group has met every year since 1982
except in 1986. That year, a workshop on indigenous rights was
sponsored by the Anti-Slavery Society for the Protection of Human
Rights and the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, and was chaired
by the current Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group, Ms.
Erica-Irene A. Daes.
The Working Group is
open to representatives of all indigenous peoples and their
communities and organizations. The openness of the Group's sessions
to all interested parties and the constructive dialogue developed
between all concerned have strengthened the Group's position as a
focal point of international action on behalf of indigenous peoples'
causes. Several indigenous peoples' organizations arrange
preparatory meetings before the Working Group's sessions to
formulate common initiatives and positions.
The interest generated
by the activities of the Working Group and in the subject of
indigenous peoples' rights in general is indicated by the number of
people who take part. Some 700 persons regularly attend the
sessions. They include observers for Governments and indigenous
peoples' and non-governmental organizations, as well as scholars and
academics. The Working Group has become one of the largest United
Nations forums in the field of human rights.
Apart from facilitating
and encouraging dialogue between Governments and indigenous peoples,
the Working Group has two formal tasks:
To review national
developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of the human
rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples; and
To develop international
standards concerning the rights of indigenous peoples, taking
account of both the similarities and the differences in their
situations and aspirations throughout the world.
In reviewing national
developments, the Working Group receives and analyses written
information submitted by Governments, specialized agencies and other
organs of the United Nations, other international and regional
intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental bodies and the
indigenous peoples themselves.
The Chairperson-Rapporteur
visits countries to gain first-hand information, as well as to
provide information on United Nations activities in the field of
indigenous peoples' rights and to identify issues which need to be
taken up in standard-setting.
The Working Group's
mandate does not authorize it to examine specific complaints of
alleged violations of human rights with the purpose of making
recommendations or taking decisions on such cases; other United
Nations complaints channels are available for that purpose. (3)
Standard-setting
The Working Group on
Indigenous Populations has put special emphasis on the second part
of its mandate: the development of international standards
concerning the rights of indigenous peoples.
In 1985, the Working
Group began preparing a draft declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples, taking into account the comments and suggestions
of participants in its sessions, particularly representatives of
indigenous peoples and Governments. At its eleventh session, in July
1993, the Working Group agreed on a final text for the draft
declaration and submitted it to the Sub-Commission.
By its resolution
1994/45 of 26 August 1994, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted the draft
declaration and submitted it to the Commission on Human Rights for
consideration. (4)
The draft United Nations
declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples represents one of
the most important developments in the promotion and protection of
the basic rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. The
draft declaration consists of 19 preambular paragraphs and 45
articles and covers rights and freedoms including the preservation
and development of ethnic and cultural characteristics and distinct
identities; protection against genocide and ethnocide; rights
related to religions, languages and educational institutions;
ownership, possession or use of indigenous lands and natural
resources; protection of cultural and intellectual property;
maintenance of traditional economic structures and ways of life,
including hunting, fishing, herding, gathering, timber-sawing and
cultivation; environmental protection; participation in the
political, economic and social life of the States concerned, in
particular in matters which may affect indigenous people's lives and
destinies; self-determination; self-government or autonomy in
matters relating to indigenous peoples' internal and local affairs;
traditional contacts and cooperation across State boundaries; and
the honouring of treaties and agreements concluded with indigenous
peoples.
The draft declaration
also foresees mutually acceptable and fair procedures for resolving
conflicts or disputes between indigenous peoples and States,
involving means such as negotiations, mediation, arbitration,
national courts, and international and regional human rights review
and complaints mechanisms.
The draft declaration
further provides that the rights mentioned in it constitute the
minimum standards for the survival and well-being of the indigenous
peoples of the world.
Working group on
the draft declaration
By its resolution
1995/32 of 3 March 1995, the Commission on Human Rights established
an open-ended inter-sessional working group to consider the text
submitted by the Sub-Commission and elaborate a draft declaration
for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly within the
International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995-2004). (5)
The General Assembly has affirmed that the adoption of a declaration
is a major objective of the Decade. (6)
In the annex to its
resolution 1995/32, the Commission on Human Rights established
procedures for participation in the work of the working group on the
draft declaration by organizations of indigenous people not having
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (see annex
II below). Such organizations are invited to send their
applications to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights/Centre for Human Rights, which asks for comments from the
States concerned. The applications and the comments of the relevant
Governments are considered by the Council's Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations. As of March 1997, 99 organizations
of indigenous people had been approved by the Committee.
Since its establishment,
the working group on the draft declaration has held two sessions,
both at the United Nations Office at Geneva. At its first session,
in November-December 1995, the group considered the draft
declaration adopted by the Sub-Commission and held a general debate
on the text section by section in order to identify where there was
general consensus and which articles would require greater
deliberation (see E/CN.4/1996/84). At the second session, in
October-November 1996, articles dealing with similar themes or
having some other relationship with each other were reclustered for
the purposes of discussion and in order to hear proposals (see
E/CN.4/1997/102). No changes have yet been made to the draft
declaration adopted by the Sub-Commission, which remains the basis
for the work of the inter-sessional working group.
Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Populations
In 1985, the General
Assembly established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Populations. The Fund provides financial assistance to
representatives of indigenous communities and organizations to
enable them to attend sessions of the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations. The Working Group's sessions in Geneva bring together
people from all parts of the world. Through the Fund, the United
Nations can make it easier for representatives of indigenous
communities - many of whom come from distant regions - to take part.
The Fund is administered
by the United Nations Secretary-General with the advice of a
five-member Board of Trustees, (7)
which meets annually to review applications for assistance. The Fund
relies on contributions from Governments, non-governmental
organizations and other public and private entities, and provides
travel grants to about 40 representatives of indigenous peoples
every year.
The Board of Trustees'
questionnaire which applicants for assistance from the Fund must
complete is reproduced in annex I below.
In December 1995, the
General Assembly extended the scope of the Voluntary Fund for the
purpose of also providing financial assistance to representatives of
indigenous peoples' organizations authorized by the Committee on
Non-governmental Organizations to participate in the work of the
Commission on Human Rights working group on the draft declaration.
The number of requests
for assistance far exceeds the resources available. The Board of
Trustees, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities and the Commission on Human Rights have all appealed for
contributions to the Fund. All contributions should be addressed to:
Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, High Commissioner/Centre
for Human Rights, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Indigenous peoples requesting financial assistance should write to
the same address before 15 March each year.
Study on treaties
and agreements with indigenous peoples
The relations between
indigenous peoples and the Governments of the countries in which
they live in many cases have a legal foundation in treaties,
agreements and other arrangements. Some of the documents date back
to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The making of such
agreements has continued in many countries.
Some treaties stand the
test of time, providing a basis for peoples with different
backgrounds and cultures to live in harmony. Others have been
disputed, either because they are thought of as unfairly negotiated,
or because the treaty rights have been breached and obligations not
fulfilled.
Many of the treaties
carry a great symbolic meaning to indigenous peoples. They are seen
as providing recognition of indigenous self-determination, and a
guarantee of the collective rights of the peoples concerned. An
agreement which has the character of a solemn pledge by one people
to another, when fully honoured by both parties, breeds mutual trust
and respect and has a potentially vital role in promoting and
protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous
peoples.
For all these reasons,
the Economic and Social Council in 1989 authorized the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities to appoint Mr. Miguel Alfonso Martínez, a member of the
Working Group on Indigenous Populations, as Special Rapporteur with
the task of preparing a study on the potential utility of treaties,
agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and
indigenous populations. While the study will take into account the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the Special
Rapporteur has been asked to give particular attention to universal
human rights standards which now exist or are emerging, and to
suggest ways of achieving the maximum possible promotion and
protection of indigenous peoples' treaty rights in domestic as well
as in international law.
The United Nations has
asked States and indigenous peoples to transmit all information
relevant to these treaty issues to the Special Rapporteur. He is
studying thousands of treaties and agreements already in existence
and the work which went into their preparation. He is also
consulting constitutional and legislative acts of States and
international and national judicial decisions, as well as other
pertinent information.
The Special Rapporteur
submitted a preliminary report to the Sub-Commission in 1992, and
second and third progress reports in 1994 and 1996, respectively.
The final report is due to be submitted to the Sub-Commission in
1997.
Study on
protection of the heritage of indigenous peoples
Exploration and
colonization beginning in the fifteenth century not only led to
rapid appropriation of indigenous peoples' lands and natural
resources, but also despoiled their sciences, ideas, arts and
cultures.
Today, interest in
indigenous peoples' knowledge and cultures is stronger than ever and
the exploitation of those cultures continues. Tourism in areas
occupied by indigenous people and the commercialization of
indigenous art are growing. Indigenous medicinal knowledge and
expertise in agricultural biodiversity and environmental management
are used, but the profits are rarely shared with indigenous peoples
themselves. Many indigenous peoples are also concerned about
skeletal remains of their ancestors and sacred objects being held by
museums and are exploring ways for their restitution.
For indigenous peoples
all over the world the protection of their cultural and intellectual
property has taken on growing importance and urgency. They cannot
exercise their fundamental human rights as distinct nations,
societies and peoples without the ability to control the knowledge
they have inherited from their ancestors.
Accordingly, in 1992,
the Economic and Social Council endorsed the appointment of Ms.
Erica-Irene A. Daes, Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on
Indigenous Populations, as Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission
on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to
prepare a study on measures which should be taken by the
international community to strengthen respect for the cultural and
intellectual property of indigenous peoples.
The completed study was
submitted to the Sub-Commission in August 1993 (see
E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/28). It may be seen as a first formal step in
responding to the concerns expressed by indigenous peoples and as a
basis for appropriate standard-setting to provide them with some
immediate relief from the widespread and growing threats to the
integrity of their cultural, spiritual, artistic, religious and
scientific traditions.
The study was followed
up with a request to the Special Rapporteur to draft basic
principles and guidelines for protecting the heritage of indigenous
peoples and for promoting a wider dialogue between indigenous
peoples and the United Nations, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), international financial
institutions, and scientific and professional associations in this
field. The draft principles and guidelines were submitted to the
Sub-Commission in 1994 and 1995 and a supplementary report in 1996.
Seminars on
indigenous peoples' rights
An invited group of
governmental and indigenous peoples' experts discussed the effects
of racism and racial discrimination on the social and economic
relations between indigenous peoples and States at a United Nations
seminar in Geneva in January 1989.
Among the conclusions
and recommendations of the seminar were the findings that indigenous
peoples had been, and still were, the victims of racism and racial
discrimination; that relations between States and indigenous peoples
should be based on free and informed consent and cooperation, not
merely consultation and participation; and that indigenous peoples
should be recognized as proper subjects of international law with
their own collective rights.
The seminar was chaired
by an expert nominated by the Government of Senegal, Mr. Ndary Toure.
An indigenous peoples' expert, Mr. Ted Moses of the Grand Council of
the Crees (of Quebec), served as Rapporteur.
In September 1991, a
group of experts met in Nuuk, Greenland, to review the experience of
countries in the operation of schemes of internal self-government
for indigenous peoples. Nominated by both Member States of the
United Nations and indigenous peoples' organizations, the experts
considered different examples of self-government arrangements and
made a series of recommendations.
The experts recognized,
for example, that indigenous peoples are historically
self-governing, with their own languages and cultures, laws and
traditions, and that self-determination is a precondition for
freedom, justice and peace, both within States and in the
international community. A manual containing various examples of
indigenous peoples' self-government and self-management arrangements
has been prepared by the Centre for Human Rights.
The seminar in Nuuk is
considered to have made an important contribution to the discussion
on self-government for indigenous peoples. It was chaired by the
former Premier of Greenland, Mr. Jonathan Motzfeldt. Ms. Maria
Lorenza Dalupan from the Philippines served as Rapporteur.
The role of indigenous
peoples in the practice of sustainable development was the focus of
attention when representatives of Governments and indigenous groups,
as well as independent experts on indigenous peoples, gathered in
Santiago, Chile, in May 1992 for a technical conference held as part
of the preparations for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
This United Nations
Technical Conference on practical experience in the realization of
sustainable and environmentally sound self-development by indigenous
peoples developed a set of working principles which recognized the
need for indigenous peoples to exercise greater jurisdiction over
their own affairs, as well as the right to determine their own
development, control their own institutions and use their resources
as they see fit.
Mr. José Bengoa from
Chile chaired the meeting and Mr. Ingmar Egede, a representative of
the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, served as Rapporteur.
At the invitation of the
Government of Canada, the Expert Seminar on Practical Experiences
Regarding Indigenous Land Rights and Claims was held at Whitehorse,
Canada, in March 1996. The seminar was part of the programme of
activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous
People. Mr. David Keenan, of the Yukon Council of First Nations,
chaired the seminar and Mr. José Aylwin Oyarzun, of the Government
of Chile, served as Rapporteur.
The seminar adopted
final conclusions and recommendations on indigenous land rights and
claims. It emphasized, inter alia, that the promotion and
protection of rights over lands and resources of indigenous peoples
are vital for the peoples' development and cultural survival.
Furthermore, the importance of participation by indigenous peoples
in decision-making processes was underlined. The seminar concluded
that political will in the form of a genuine commitment on the part
of Governments to partnership in decision-making is essential to the
success of co-management regimes and to the avoidance of adversarial
relations between parties to such regimes. It also stated that the
implementation of sustainable development should take fully into
account indigenous peoples' values, knowledge and technologies in
order to ensure resources for future generations.
Indigenous
peoples' rights: the wider perspective
The Working Group on
Indigenous Populations is the centre of indigenous rights activity
in the United Nations. The focus shifts to the parent bodies, the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities and the Commission on Human Rights, when the Working
Group's reports are being reviewed and discussed. Many of the
indigenous rights initiatives undertaken by the parent bodies have
grown out of recommendations contained in reports of the Working
Group.
The Sub-Commission
reviews the annual reports of the Working Group and acts on its
recommendations under an agenda item entitled "Discrimination
against indigenous peoples". (The Sub-Commission abandoned the
term "indigenous populations" in favour of
"indigenous peoples" in 1988.) The Commission on Human
Rights, in turn, considers the Working Group's reports together with
the reports of the Sub-Commission. In 1996, the Commission decided
to include a new item on its agenda entitled "Indigenous
issues". In both parent bodies, the Group's reports command
considerable and increasing attention, in the form of debates and
resolutions. Indigenous organizations increasingly attend United
Nations human rights meetings, in addition to those of the Working
Group.
Indigenous peoples are
entitled to enjoy all existing human rights. United Nations
committees which oversee the implementation of binding agreements -
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which
includes specific provisions relating to indigenous people -
consider indigenous issues when examining reports by States on their
performance under these treaties. The bodies concerned are,
respectively, the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Indigenous peoples and
their organizations increasingly make use of the various
communications or complaints procedures available to them. These
are, in particular, the so-called "1503" procedure
established by the Economic and Social Council to look into gross
and consistent patterns of human rights violations, and procedures
under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights. (8)
Special rapporteurs investigating the human rights situation in
specific countries or preparing reports on certain topics, for
example religious intolerance, human rights and the environment, and
population transfer, have also addressed the concerns of indigenous
peoples when asked to do so.
The two World
Conferences to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, convened by
the United Nations in Geneva in 1978 and 1983, debated aspects of
discrimination against indigenous peoples and included appropriate
principles and measures in their resolutions and programmes of
action. Some of these principles are reflected in the draft
declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Seminars organized
for the Decades for Action to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination, notably in Geneva in 1979 and in Managua in 1981,
have covered human rights issues affecting indigenous peoples.
A global consultation in
Geneva in October 1988 under the Programme of Action for the Second
Decade drew attention to the vulnerability of indigenous peoples to
racism and racial discrimination. The participants suggested, inter
alia, that Governments should adopt legislative, administrative,
economic and social measures to eliminate policies and practices
which discriminate against indigenous individuals, communities and
nations, with the aim of improving their living conditions and
achieving harmonious relations between indigenous and non-indigenous
peoples. All possible measures, they agreed, should be taken to
allow indigenous peoples to maintain and develop their cultures; and
Governments should create the conditions and implement legal
measures to promote and protect the human rights of, among other
beneficiaries, indigenous peoples.
International Year
of the World's Indigenous People
The need for a new
approach to the issue of indigenous peoples was recognized by the
General Assembly when, by its resolution 45/164 of 18 December 1990,
it proclaimed 1993 the International Year of the World's Indigenous
People. Indigenous peoples had, for many years, been calling for an
international year to raise global awareness of their situation. At
the opening ceremony in New York, for the first time in the history
of the United Nations indigenous peoples' leaders spoke directly
from the podium of the General Assembly.
The objective of the
Year was to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of
problems faced by indigenous peoples in such areas as human rights,
the environment, development, education and health. The theme for
the Year, "Indigenous people - a new partnership", was
aimed at the development of a new and equitable relationship between
the international community, States and indigenous peoples based on
the participation of indigenous people in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of projects affecting their living
conditions and future.
As part of the programme
of activities for the Year, the Secretary-General opened a voluntary
fund, which provided assistance to some 40 small-scale,
community-based projects of indigenous people. Numerous other
activities were funded directly by Governments. The
Secretary-General appointed Rigoberta Menchú Tum, winner of the
1992 Nobel Peace Prize, as Goodwill Ambassador for the Year. The
Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights acted as Coordinator
for the Year.
World Conference
on Human Rights
In June 1993, the second
World Conference on Human Rights was held in Vienna. Many hundreds
of indigenous people attended the conference and their
representatives addressed the plenary session. In the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action which it adopted,
(9) the World Conference recognized
the "inherent dignity and the unique contribution of indigenous
people to the development and plurality of society" and
reaffirmed "the commitment of the international community to
their economic, social and cultural well-being and their enjoyment
of the fruits of sustainable development" (Part I, para. 20).
The conference called upon States to "take concerted positive
steps to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental
freedoms of indigenous people, on the basis of equality and
non-discrimination, and recognize the value and diversity of their
distinct identities, cultures and social organization". The
conference also recommended that an international decade of the
world's indigenous people be proclaimed and that consideration be
given to the establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous
people in the United Nations system.
A permanent forum
Following the
recommendation by the World Conference on Human Rights that the
General Assembly consider the establishment of a permanent forum for
indigenous people in the United Nations system, a workshop was held
in June 1995 in Copenhagen. Participants included 21 representatives
of Governments, 21 delegates from indigenous peoples and 2
independent experts. The issues discussed were the scope of a
permanent forum, the United Nations body to which the proposed forum
would report, the mandate and terms of reference, the activities it
might undertake, membership and indigenous participation, the
relationship with the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, and
financial and secretariat implications. At the request of the
General Assembly, a review of existing mechanisms, procedures and
programmes for indigenous people in the United Nations system has
been prepared by the Secretary-General (A/51/493).
International
Decade of the World's Indigenous People
Following a
recommendation by the World Conference on Human Rights, the General
Assembly, by its resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, proclaimed
the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
(1995-2004). The goal of the Decade is to strengthen international
cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people
in such areas as human rights, the environment, development,
education and health. The theme of the Decade is "Indigenous
people: partnership in action". The programme of activities for
the Decade adopted by the General Assembly in December 1995 is
reproduced in annex III below.
Voluntary Fund for
the International Decade
A special fund - the
Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's
Indigenous People - has been established by the General Assembly for
the purpose of assisting financially projects and programmes during
the Decade. In April 1996, an advisory group met for the first time
to recommend guidelines for the Fund and review projects and
programmes. The guidelines agreed on are reproduced in annex
IV below.
The advisory group is
composed of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Voluntary
Fund for Indigenous Populations, the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the
Working Group on Indigenous Populations, and a representative of the
United Nations Development Programme. Three donor Governments are
represented by observers.
The International
Day: 9 August
In its resolution 49/214
of 23 December 1994 (para. 8), the General Assembly designated 9
August to be observed as International Day of the World's Indigenous
People every year during the International Decade. This occasion
will be used by the United Nations to draw attention to indigenous
issues and societies. It represents an opportunity for Governments,
non-governmental organizations and other interested groups to
organize activities which raise awareness about indigenous people
and their cultures.
The United Nations
system
The International Labour
Organization (ILO) was the first international body to take action
on indigenous issues. Since its creation in 1919, ILO has defended
the social and economic rights of groups whose customs, traditions,
institutions or language set them apart from other sections of
national communities. In 1953, ILO published a study on indigenous
peoples and in 1957 adopted Convention No. 107 and Recommendation
No. 104 on the Protection and Integration of Indigenous and Tribal
Populations. These were the first international legal instruments
specifically created to protect the rights of peoples whose ways of
life and existence were - then, as now - threatened by dominating
cultures.
In June 1989, after four
years of preparatory work, the International Labour Conference
adopted a revised version of Convention No. 107 (now Convention No.
169), on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. This new instrument
eliminates the paternalistic and assimilationist approaches to
indigenous peoples which were current in the 1950s. Convention No.
169 serves as a basis for ILO implementation and technical
assistance activities for indigenous peoples. As of July 1996, the
following States had ratified ILO Convention No. 169: Bolivia,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Norway,
Paraguay and Peru. (The United Nations declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples now in preparation will, as a resolution of the
General Assembly, constitute a set of recommendations to Member
States; the ILO Convention creates international legal commitments
binding on States which formally ratify the text.)
The United Nations and
ILO cooperate closely in developing activities to achieve the
objectives of Convention No. 169 and of the International Decade.
In recent years, other
parts of the United Nations system have been active in promoting the
rights of indigenous people. In 1981, for example, the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
organized an international seminar on ethnocide and ethnic
development in Latin America. At that meeting, ethnocide was defined
as the conditions under which an ethnic group is denied the right to
enjoy, develop and transmit its own culture and its own language.
Since that time, UNESCO has supported numerous projects in the
educational and cultural fields relating to indigenous peoples.
The United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro in
June 1992, constitutes an important new development for indigenous
people in their relationship with the United Nations. The Conference
recognized that indigenous people and their communities have a vital
role in environmental management and development because of their
knowledge and traditional practices. It was stressed that national
and international efforts to implement environmentally sound and
sustainable development should recognize, accommodate, promote and
strengthen the role of indigenous people and their communities.
Chapter 26 of the programme of action adopted by the Conference
(Agenda 21) was devoted to indigenous people. Indigenous peoples met
in one of the largest gatherings of its kind at the NGO Forum which
coincided with the so-called Earth Summit and adopted their own
declaration on the environment and development - the Kari-Oka
Declaration. One of the outcomes of the Earth Summit was the signing
of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which includes provisions
specifically concerning indigenous people.
Subsequent high-level
conferences, including the International Conference on Population
and Development (Cairo, 1994), the World Summit for Social
Development (Copenhagen, 1995), the Fourth World Conference on Women
(Beijing, 1995) and the United Nations Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II) (Istanbul, 1996), have all made
recommendations relating to indigenous people.
The World Bank has also
recognized the need to protect indigenous peoples and, in September
1991, adopted Operational Directive 4.20 to set out policies and
procedures for projects affecting them. The directive provides
policy guidance to ensure that indigenous peoples benefit from
development projects and to avoid potentially adverse effects on
them.
Mention may also be made
of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health
Organization, which have initiated projects for indigenous peoples.
In July 1996, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, in
cooperation with WHO, devoted part of its session to the question of
health and indigenous peoples.
Conclusions
Discussions in the
Working Group on Indigenous Populations and in other human rights
bodies indicate that, despite certain progress made, a great deal
remains to be done in order to resolve outstanding issues coming
between indigenous peoples' interests and national or private
development, between the livelihoods and lifestyles of the peoples
concerned and public policies and projects. The positive
contribution which indigenous groups can make to environmental
protection has already been mentioned.
The land issue remains
crucial. National economic development generates pressure on
territory still in the hands of indigenous peoples. Barren
wastelands or forested hinterlands once thought to have little
economic, political or military value have been identified as areas
of vital importance. These developments could affect the economies
and habitats, and the social, religious and cultural systems of
indigenous peoples.
The world community has
long acknowledged that the distinct cultures and languages of
indigenous peoples form part of the cultural heritage of humankind
and deserve protection. Much more important than a means of everyday
communication, language is the vehicle of culture and identity. Yet
organizations defending indigenous peoples' rights cite cases where
educational systems are being used to forge nations with one
language, history and culture.
Many Governments have
stated that they are aware of the serious problems faced by
indigenous peoples living in their territories and of the factors
which have placed them among the most vulnerable groups in national
societies. In some parts of the world, a permanent dialogue is
taking place. In other places, direct negotiations between
indigenous peoples and Governments have been instituted and are
moving forward, with the aim of improving relations and guaranteeing
better protection of indigenous peoples' rights.
Some countries have
introduced autonomous institutions as well as other programmes
specially designed for indigenous peoples at the local and regional
levels. These moves are designed to improve conditions in such areas
as health, housing, labour and education, and contribute, as far as
possible, to the maintenance of traditional ways of life and
culture.
In recent years, several
Governments have amended their constitutions and legislation to take
into account the multicultural character of national society. Some
progress has also been made in returning and guaranteeing collective
ownership of indigenous lands.
The involvement of the
United Nations in the promotion and protection of the rights of
indigenous peoples has progressed rapidly. This role will be
enhanced by public awareness and understanding of the principal
issues involved. The International Decade offers an opportunity to
raise public awareness and interest and to develop an international
plan of action for the improvement of the living conditions of
indigenous peoples.
ANNEX
I
Questionnaire for
applications for financial assistance from the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations
1. Give the full name of
your indigenous organization or community and describe its
institutions, and the type and level of its functions and
activities.
2. Identify the
indigenous people(s) which your organization or community
represents. Give information about the geographical location of the
people and relevant demographic data.
3. Indicate whether
there is a need for full or partial travel funds and for subsistence
allowance while in Geneva. Data about the budget and/or annual
expenditures and other aspects of the financial situation of the
organization or community concerned and the possibility of it
raising funds from other sources, including governmental support,
would be appreciated.
4. Give the full name(s)
and general identification of the representative who will represent
your organization or community in the Working Group. It is of
particular importance that the address of each proposed recipient,
at which he or she may be contacted directly, is provided. You
should also include the following information: relevant biographical
information, including in particular the position and work or
activities of the person(s) concerned on behalf of the
community/organization at local, national, regional and
international levels; other experience in indigenous peoples'
affairs; language(s) spoken, indigenous and non-indigenous;
indication of priority if more than one representative; need for
interpreter or liaison.
5. Indicate, if
possible, the substantive contribution which each representative
will be able to make to the items on the agenda of the Working
Group, drawing on the experience of his/her people concerning their
basic rights and suggestions on how best to make them effective, in
particular as they relate to the review of developments pertaining
to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental
freedoms and/or to the evolution of international standards.
6. Indicate, in
particular, the intended travel itinerary to and from Geneva,
including route, carrier and cost. Applicants should bear in mind
that the Board will accord priority to those applicants who indicate
that they have made efforts locally to determine the least expensive
way of travelling to and from Geneva from the place of departure.
United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations High
Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva
10 Switzerland
ANNEX
II
Procedures (10)
for participation by organizations of indigenous people in the
open-ended
inter-sessional working group established by the Commission on
Human Rights
to elaborate a draft declaration on the rights of
indigenous peoples
1. The procedures
contained in the present annex are adopted solely to authorize the
participation of organizations of indigenous people not in
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
2. These procedures are
consistent with the procedures set forth in resolution 1296 (XLIV)
of 23 May 1968 of the Economic and Social Council and do not
constitute a precedent in any other situation. They shall apply only
to the Working Group created by Council resolution 1995/32 of 25
July 1995 and they shall remain in effect for the duration of the
Working Group.
3. Organizations of
indigenous people not in consultative status wishing to participate
in the Working Group may apply to the Coordinator of the
International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. Such
applications must include the following information concerning the
organization concerned:
(a) The name,
headquarters or seat, address and contact person for the
organization;
(b) The aims and
purposes of the organization (these should be in conformity with the
spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations);
(c) Information on the
programmes and activities of the organization and the country or
countries in which they are carried out or to which they apply;
(d) A description of the
membership of the organization, indicating the total number of
members.
4. Upon receipt of
applications, the Coordinator of the International Decade should
consult with any State concerned pursuant to Article 71 of the
Charter of the United Nations and paragraph 9 of resolution 1296 (XLIV)
of the Economic and Social Council. The Coordinator should promptly
forward all applications and information received to the Council
Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations for its decision.
5. Authorization to
participate shall remain valid for the duration of the Working Group
subject to the relevant provisions of part VIII of resolution 1296 (XLIV)
of the Economic and Social Council.
6. The activities of
organizations of indigenous people authorized to participate in the
Working Group pursuant to these procedures shall be governed by
rules 75 and 76 of the rules of procedure of the functional
commissions of the Economic and Social Council.
7. Organizations of
indigenous people authorized to participate in the Working Group
will have the opportunity to address the Working Group, consistent
with the relevant provisions of paragraphs 31 and 33 of Council
resolution 1296 (XLIV), and are encouraged to organize themselves
into constituencies for this purpose.
8. Organizations of
indigenous people may make written presentations which, however,
will not be issued as official documents.
9. States having
indigenous populations should take effective measures to bring the
invitation to participate and these procedures to the attention of
organizations of indigenous people potentially interested in
contributing to and participating in the Working Group.
ANNEX
III
Programme of
activities for the International Decade ofthe World's Indigenous
People (11)
A. OBJECTIVES
1. Taking into account
General Assembly resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, the main
objective of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous
People is the strengthening of international cooperation for the
solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as
human rights, the environment, development, health, culture and
education.
2. The specialized
agencies of the United Nations system and other international and
national agencies, as well as communities and private enterprises,
should devote special attention to development activities of benefit
to indigenous communities.
3. A major objective of
the Decade is the education of indigenous and non-indigenous
societies concerning the situation, cultures, languages, rights and
aspirations of indigenous people. In particular, efforts should be
made to cooperate with the United Nations Decade for Human Rights
Education.
4. An objective of the
Decade is the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous
people and their empowerment to make choices which enable them to
retain their cultural identity while participating in political,
economic and social life, with full respect for their cultural
values, languages, traditions and forms of social organization.
5. An objective of the
Decade is to further the implementation of the recommendations
pertaining to indigenous people of all high-level international
conferences, including the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, the World Conference on Human Rights, in particular
its recommendation that consideration be given to the establishment
of a permanent forum for indigenous people in the United Nations
system, the International Conference on Population and Development
and the World Summit for Social Development, as well as all future
high-level meetings.
6. An objective of the
Decade is the adoption of the draft United Nations declaration on
the rights of indigenous peoples and the further development of
international standards as well as national legislation for the
protection and promotion of the human rights of indigenous people,
including effective means of monitoring and guaranteeing those
rights.
7. The objectives of the
Decade should be assessed by quantifiable outcomes that will improve
the lives of indigenous people and that can be evaluated halfway
through the Decade and at its end.
B. ACTIVITIES TO
BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE MAJOR ACTORS
1. United Nations
observances
8. A formal observance
each year on the International Day of the World's Indigenous People,
in New York, Geneva and at other offices of the United Nations.
9. Official observance
of the Decade as part of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and
other international conferences related to the aims and themes of
the Decade.
10. Issuance of a
special series of stamps by the United Nations Postal Administration
highlighting the goals and themes of the Decade.
2. Activities of the
Coordinator and the Centre for Human Rights
11. Establish, as a
matter of urgency, an adequately staffed and resourced indigenous
people's unit.
12. Request Governments
to second qualified indigenous people, in consultation with
interested national indigenous organizations, to assist in the
administration of the Decade.
13. Create a fellowship
programme, in collaboration with the Advisory Services of the Centre
for Human Rights of the Secretariat and Governments, to assist
indigenous people wishing to gain experience in the different
branches of the Centre and in other parts of the United Nations
system. Such fellowships might be available for indigenous research
and other similar activities.
14. Open a roster of
indigenous experts in various fields who might be available to
assist United Nations agencies, in collaboration with Governments,
as appropriate, as partners or consultants.
15. Create an advisory
group of persons with relevant knowledge of indigenous issues,
acting in their personal capacity, to advise the Coordinator for the
Decade and United Nations organizations, at their request. The
members of this advisory group could include eminent indigenous
persons, governmental representatives, independent experts and
officials of the specialized agencies.
16. Consider the need to
hold coordination meetings of Governments, organizations of the
United Nations system and indigenous and non-governmental
organizations, as necessary, to consider, examine and evaluate
Decade activities and to develop an integrated, action-oriented
strategy to advance the interests of indigenous people. The Economic
and Social Council should hold mid-term and end-term reviews of the
Decade in accordance with its resolution 1988/63 of 27 July 1988.
The Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities should
review international activities undertaken during the Decade and
receive information from Governments on the implementation of the
goals of the Decade in their respective countries.
17. Compile, on the
basis of communications of the focal points in the United Nations
system, a regular news-sheet containing information about meetings
of interest, major or innovatory projects, new sources of funding,
policy developments and other news to be widely distributed.
18. Encourage the
development of partnership projects in association with Governments
to address specific regional or thematic issues bringing together
Governments, indigenous people and appropriate United Nations
agencies.
19. Establish an
information programme linking the Coordinator of the Decade to focal
points of the United Nations system, national committees for the
Decade and, through appropriate channels, indigenous networks; also
develop a database of indigenous organizations and other relevant
information, in cooperation with indigenous people, Governments,
academic institutions and other relevant bodies.
20. Organize meetings on
relevant themes of concern to indigenous people with indigenous
participation.
21. Launch a series of
publications on indigenous issues to inform policy makers,
opinion-formers, students and other interested people.
22. Develop, in
collaboration with Governments, training programmes on human rights
for indigenous people, including the preparation of relevant
training materials, when possible in indigenous languages.
23. Establish a board of
trustees or advisory group, including indigenous people, to assist
the Coordinator of the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade.
24. Encourage the
development of projects and programmes, in collaboration with
Governments and taking into account the views of indigenous people
and the appropriate United Nations agencies, for support by the
Voluntary Fund for the Decade.
25. Ensure, in
coordination with Governments and indigenous organizations, the
necessary measures to guarantee financing of the objectives of the
Decade.
3. United Nations
public information activities
26. Produce and
disseminate a series of posters on the Decade using designs by
indigenous artists.
27. Organize a lecture
series at United Nations information centres and campuses linked to
the United Nations University, using indigenous speakers.
28. Publish in
indigenous languages the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
international human rights conventions and, upon its adoption, the
United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples,
considering the use of audiovisual material for this purpose.
Consider also the involvement of indigenous experts and their own
information networks in disseminating information about the Decade.
29. Prepare, in
collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights, information about
indigenous people for distribution to the general public.
4. Operational
activities of the United Nations system
30. Establish focal
points for indigenous issues in all appropriate organizations of the
United Nations system.
31. Encourage the
governing bodies of specialized agencies of the United Nations
system to adopt programmes of action for the Decade in their own
fields of competence, in close cooperation with indigenous people.
32. Urge Governments to
ensure that the programmes and budgets of relevant intergovernmental
organizations give priority and devote sufficient resources to
furthering the aims of the Decade, and request that regular reports
on the action taken be submitted to the governing body or executive
council of each organization.
33. Prepare, publish and
disseminate a manual containing practical information for indigenous
people on the operations and procedures of United Nations agencies.
34. Develop research on
the socio-economic conditions of indigenous people, in collaboration
with indigenous organizations and other appropriate partners, with a
view to publishing regular reports in order to contribute to the
solution of problems faced by indigenous people, taking into account
paragraph 6.26 of the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development, held at Cairo from 5 to 13
September 1994.
35. Encourage
Governments to establish appropriate mechanisms and practices to
ensure the participation of indigenous people in the design and
implementation of national and regional programmes of concern to
them.
36. Hold regular
inter-agency consultations, in collaboration with Governments and
indigenous people, to exchange views and develop strategies on the
programme of action for the Decade.
37. Hold consultations
with Governments to examine, with national committees and
development agencies, possibilities of cooperation in the activities
of the Decade.
38. Develop training
materials for indigenous people on human rights, including the
translation of the main international instruments into different
indigenous languages, and give them wide distribution. Consider the
possibility of using radio programmes to gain access to indigenous
communities not having written languages.
39. Prepare a database
on national legislation on matters of particular relevance to
indigenous people.
40. Hold consultations
of all interested parties on the themes of human rights, the
environment, development, health, culture and education, with a view
to elaborating programmes in these areas.
5. Activities of
regional organizations
41. Implement existing
and develop new regional programmes of action to promote and support
the objectives of the Decade.
42. Hold regional
meetings on indigenous issues with existing regional organizations
with a view to strengthening coordination, taking advantage of the
machinery of the United Nations system and promoting the direct and
active participation of indigenous people of different regions in
collaboration with Governments. The Working Group on Indigenous
Populations could consider the possibility of holding its sessions
in conjunction with these meetings.
43. Develop training
courses and technical assistance programmes for indigenous people in
areas such as project design and management, environment, health and
education, and promote the exchange of skills and experiences of
indigenous people from different regions.
44. Make funds available
at the regional level to activities benefiting indigenous people.
45. Encourage regional
organizations to draw up regional instruments for the promotion and
protection of indigenous people in the framework of their own
structures and promote existing regional instruments.
6. Activities of
Member States
46. Establish national
committees for the Decade or similar mechanisms, including
indigenous people, all relevant departments and other interested
parties duly convened by Governments, to mobilize public support for
the various activities connected with the Decade.
47. Intensify
coordination and communication at the national level between
relevant ministries, agencies and regional and local authorities by
establishing focal points or other mechanisms for coordination and
dissemination of information.
48. Use part of the
resources of existing programmes and of international assistance for
activities of direct benefit to indigenous people and, where
possible, provide additional funds for specific activities.
49. Develop, in
collaboration with indigenous communities, national plans for the
Decade, including main objectives and targets, fixing quantitative
outcomes and taking into account the need for resources and possible
sources of financing.
50. Provide appropriate
resources for indigenous institutions, organizations and communities
to develop their own plans and actions according to their own
priorities.
51. Adopt measures, in
cooperation with indigenous people, to increase knowledge, starting
at the elementary-school level and in accordance with the age and
development of schoolchildren, concerning the history, traditions,
culture and rights of
indigenous people, with special emphasis on the education of
teachers at all levels, and adopt measures to restore indigenous
place-names.
52. Consider
ratification and implementation of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
Convention of the International Labour Organization (No. 169) and
other international and regional instruments, in close consultation
with the indigenous organizations of each country.
53. Recognize the
existence, identity and rights of indigenous people through
constitutional reforms or the adoption of new laws, when appropriate
to improve their legal status and guarantee their economic, social,
cultural, political and civil rights.
54. Implement chapter 26
of Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, and the relevant provisions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Vienna Declaration and
Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human
Rights, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development and the Programme of Action of the World
Summit for Social Development, as well as the relevant provisions of
future high-level conferences.
7. Activities of
organizations of indigenous people
55. Establish an
information network which can be linked to the Coordinator of the
Decade and facilitate communications between the United Nations
system, relevant governmental departments and indigenous
communities.
56. Indigenous
organizations and international indigenous networks should develop
information for local communities concerning the goals of the Decade
and the activities of the United Nations.
57. Establish and
support indigenous schools and university-level institutions and
collaborate with the relevant United Nations agencies; participate
in the revision of school texts and the contents of programmes of
study in order to eliminate discriminatory content and promote the
development of indigenous cultures and, where appropriate,
indigenous languages and scripts; develop indigenous curricula for
schools and research institutions.
58. Create documentation
centres, archives and in situ museums concerning indigenous
people, their cultures, laws, beliefs and values, with material that
could be used to inform and educate non-indigenous people on these
matters. Indigenous people should participate on a preferential
basis in the administration of these centres.
59. Establish and
promote networks of indigenous journalists and launch indigenous
periodicals at the regional and international levels.
60. Indigenous people
may transmit their views on the programmes concerning their priority
rights to Governments, the United Nations and the specialized
agencies and regional organizations.
8. Activities of
non-governmental organizations and other interested parties,
including education establishments, the media and business
61. Cooperate with
indigenous organizations, communities and people in the planning of
activities for the Decade.
62. Non-governmental
organizations working with indigenous people should involve
indigenous people in their activities.
63. Create radio and
television centres in indigenous regions, when appropriate and in
accordance with national legislation, to provide information on the
problems and proposals of indigenous people and to improve
communications between indigenous communities.
64. Promote indigenous
cultures, with due respect for intellectual property rights, through
the publication of books, the production of compact discs and the
organization of various artistic and cultural events which enhance
knowledge of and serve to develop indigenous cultures and establish
indigenous cultural and documentation centres.
65. Involve different
social and cultural groups in the activities planned for the Decade.
ANNEX
IV
Voluntary Fund for
the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People:
guidelines agreed on at the first meeting of the advisory
group(Geneva, April 1996)
Objectives of the
Voluntary Fund:
- to support the
programme of activities adopted by the General Assembly in its
resolution 50/157
- to provide assistance
to projects and programmes advancing the goal of the International
Decade: international cooperation for the solution of problems faced
by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment,
development, education, culture and health
Who may apply:
- indigenous peoples,
communities and organizations, non-governmental organizations and
academic and other similar institutions; organizations should be
non-profit-making
- national committees
for the Decade
- intergovernmental
organizations and Governments with proposals for joint or
"partnership" projects in cooperation with indigenous
peoples
Main project areas:
- the programme of
activities and objectives of the Decade as well as the
recommendations of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action as
they relate to indigenous people
- indigenous
organizational structures and procedures and their strengthening
through education, training and institution- and capacity-building,
bearing in mind the need to respect their relevant traditions
- education and training
in human and indigenous rights
- information about
indigenous peoples and the International Decade
- communications and
exchanges between the United Nations system and indigenous peoples
and between indigenous peoples
- fund-raising
initiatives in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade
Criteria for selection:
- projects should be of
direct benefit to indigenous people in all parts of the world
- projects should be
prepared by or in full consultation with indigenous people
- projects will be
considered taking into account gender balance
- particular
consideration will be given to projects from underdeveloped areas in
different regions
- projects will be
approved in relevant areas, including in particular those relating
to the promotion, protection and implementation of human and
indigenous rights
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR
APPLICANTS TO THE VOLUNTARY FUND
1. Please give the
project title.
2. Describe the main
objective(s) of the project. Please also indicate how the project
relates to one of the six main projects areas.
3. Provide a summary of
the project, including information about how it will be implemented.
4. What is the executing
organization? Please provide information about the organization,
including information about membership, past activities and
projects, as well as relevant financial details. Provide information
about any partner organizations.
5. What are the expected
benefits for indigenous people? What is the expected follow-up to
the project?
6. What is the duration
of the project? Please include information about each phase of the
project.
7. What are the total
costs of the project, including breakdown of proposed expenditures?
What is the contribution requested from the Voluntary Fund? What are
the other sources of funding? How will the accounting of the project
be managed?
8. How will the project
be evaluated? Are the results quantifiable?
PROJECTS SHOULD BE SENT
TO THE VOLUNTARY FUND BEFORE 15 MARCH EACH YEAR
APPLICATIONS TO THE VOLUNTARY FUND WILL BE CONSIDERED ANNUALLY IN
APRIL
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE VOLUNTARY FUND WILL NOT EXCEED US$ 50,000
Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's
Indigenous People
High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights Palais des Nations 1211
Geneva 10 Switzerland
For further information about the United Nations indigenous
peoples programme, please contact:
Indigenous Project Team High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights
Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
Telefax: 41 22 917 0212
Updated information
about the indigenous peoples programme, including United Nations
documents and meetings, can be found on Internet at www.unhchr.ch
Notes:
1.
"Study of the problem of discrimination against indigenous
populations", issued in consolidated form in five volumes as
document E/CN.4/Sub.2/1986/7 and Add.1-4. Volume V, Conclusions,
Proposals and Recommendations, was issued as a separate
publication (Sales No. E.86.XIV.3). [back to the
text]
2. As
of July 1996, the members of the Working Group are: Mr. Miguel
Alfonso Martínez (Cuba), Mr. Volodymyr Boutkevitch (Ukraine), Ms.
Erica-Irene A. Daes (Chairperson-Rapporteur) (Greece), Mr. El-Hadji
Guissé (Senegal) and Mr. Ribot Hatano (Japan). [back
to the text]
3.
See Fact Sheet No. 7, Communications Procedures. [back
to the text]
4.
For the text of the draft declaration, see Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution
1994/45, annex. [back to the text]
5.
Proclaimed by the General Assembly by its resolution 48/163 of 21
December 1993. [back to the text]
6.
See General Assembly resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995, para. 4.
[back to the text]
7. As
of March 1997, the members of the Board of Trustees are: Mr. Michael
Dodson (Australia) Mr. Ole Ntimama (Kenya), Ms. Nina Pacari Vega
(Ecuador), Ms. Tove Sovndahl Petersen (Denmark) and Ms. Victoria
Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines). [back to the text]
8.
See Fact Sheet No. 7, Communications Procedures. [back
to the text]
9.
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. [back to the
text]
10.
Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995,
annex. [back to the text]
11.
General Assembly resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995, annex.
[back to the text]
Printed at United
Nations, Geneva
July 1997
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