|
1 May 2002
-
- United
Nations
- Economic
and Social Council
-
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
- First
Session, 13-24 May 2002, New York
- Item 6
of the provisional agenda
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND HEALTH
A Briefing
Paper For The Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues
Prepared by the
Committee on Indigenous Health
Annex 2
Summary Recommendations of the
International Consultation on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, Geneva,
23-26 November 1999 (WHO/HSD/00.1)
a) Recommendations relating
to major health challenges
WHO should:
1.
Recognize the value and
validity of indigenous health systems and should support the maintenance
and development of those systems.
2.
Explicitly take into account
the health of indigenous peoples in formulating its budget and overall
programme of work.
3.
Accept indigenous peoples’
concepts of health as valid and these concepts should form the basis of
work to promote indigenous peoples’ health development.
4.
Promote indigenous peoples’
health within the context of their broader development. To this end, WHO
should formulate, promote, and implement indigenous peoples' health
strategies that are consistent with the overall positive development of
indigenous peoples.
5.
Note that the rights
pertaining to health in the Draft UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples are compatible with the values of its own Health for
All policy for the 21st Century.
Member States should:
1.
Promote the preservation and
respect of the cultural heritage and practices of indigenous peoples, and
the integrity of their territories and natural resources. Traditional
lifestyles should be seen as protective of indigenous peoples’ health.
2.
Consider the health impact of
large-scale development projects (e.g. extractive industries and power
schemes), and only approve those projects that are not detrimental to the
health of indigenous peoples.
3.
Promote public education,
which fosters a greater degree of tolerance and respect for the distinct
cultures and special rights of indigenous peoples.
4.
Accept indigenous peoples’
concepts of health as valid and these concepts should form the basis of
work to promote indigenous peoples’ health development.
5.
Promote indigenous peoples'
health within the context of their broader development.
b)
Recommendations relating to strategies and approaches
WHO should:
1.
Act as an advocate to ensure
that equity-oriented policies on indigenous peoples’ health are promoted
and developed and serve as a catalyst in promoting initiatives relating to
the health of indigenous peoples.
2.
Continue the review of
existing policies and strategies specific to indigenous peoples at the
regional level, and may recommend to Member States policies and strategies
to be implemented based on the findings of the review.
3.
Promote the right to quality
information on health, which would enable indigenous peoples to have a
greater degree of control over their own health.
4.
Promote the systematic
collection and reporting of statistics disaggregated by ethnicity by
Member States. This will require the development of working criteria or
definitions of ethnicity and the development of indicators that are able
to measure what constitutes a positive health outcome in indigenous
peoples’ terms.
5.
Develop, in close consultation
with the Informal Indigenous Peoples Health Advisory Group, a
comprehensive research agenda which places an emphasis on the broad
determinants of health.
6.
Conduct a review of
traditional health practices in close consultation with indigenous peoples
to determine the overall acceptability in terms of traditional and
accepted international standards.
7.
Develop a database primarily
of government institutions with responsibilities for indigenous peoples’
health. Relevant research institutions working with indigenous peoples’
health issues should also be incorporated.
8.
Establish a series of
collaborating centres within Member States to facilitate research and
development on indigenous peoples' health.
9.
Encourage universities to
create departments or chairs to promote knowledge and research in
traditional medicine and healing.
10.
Create a web site on
indigenous peoples’ health.
11.
Ensure the dissemination of
information on upcoming meetings, activities and events which concern the
health of indigenous peoples, allowing for timely input and participation.
12.
Review the impact of
large-scale development interventions on indigenous peoples’ health. If
necessary, WHO should further develop existing standards and methods, so
that they are more sensitive to the situations of indigenous peoples.
13.
Ensure that indigenous peoples
are appropriately represented on the staff of WHO at all levels.
14.
Ensure (through designated
positions) that indigenous peoples have the opportunity to participate in
existing fellowship and other professional programmes at the national,
regional and HQ levels. Further, specific fellowship programmes should be
established to address the unique health development needs of indigenous
peoples.
15.
Develop other
capacity-building mechanisms such as technical assistance to indigenous
peoples’ health programmes, training of indigenous health workers and
information sharing between indigenous communities.
16.
Support the development of
competence in indigenous peoples’ health issues within Member States,
particularly in relation to the capacity of health professionals to work
with indigenous peoples.
Member States should:
1.
Ensure that the indigenous
peoples' right to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being
is reflected in their constitutions, national legislation, and government
policies and strategies.
2.
Disseminate health information
to indigenous peoples living in remote areas and find ways to communicate
this information to illiterate communities. Recognize the right of
indigenous peoples to determine their own health development and
facilitate the control of health services for indigenous peoples, by
indigenous communities. This does not, however, replace government
obligations in relation to indigenous peoples health.
3.
Formulate, in consultation
with indigenous peoples, a capacity-building plan which may include:
a) exchange of knowledge between indigenous
and non-indigenous health experts on indigenous and mainstream systems of
health;
b)
increasing the competence of health professionals so that they have the
necessary skills to work with indigenous peoples; and
c)
incorporating a consideration of indigenous health systems in relevant
university curricula.
1.
Adopt legislation that
protects indigenous peoples’ intellectual property rights in relation to
health.
2.
Undertake the systematic
collection and reporting of statistics disaggregated by ethnicity. Rapid
assessments of the state of indigenous peoples’ health should be carried
out in all regions.
3.
Report to WHRO on the health
development of indigenous peoples in countries, in terms of access and
coverage of health care.
c) Recommendations
relating to partnership mechanisms
WHO should:
1.
In recognition of the need for
partnership based upon equity, trust, and mutual respect, provide support
as required to establish an informal Indigenous Peoples Health Advisory
Group (IPHAG) as the counterpart to work with WHO. The IPHAG would
consist of at least 13 members (1 North America, 1 Central America, 1
South America, 1 East Africa, 1 Southern Africa, 1 Sahel, 1 South Asia,
South-East Asia, Far Eastern Asia, 1 Pacific, 1 Australia/ New Zealand,
and 1 Arctic and 1 Russian), representing indigenous peoples from the
different regions of the world.
2.
In accordance with WHO
resolution WHA 48.24 (1995), remind Member States of their commitment to
the establishment of focal points on indigenous peoples’ health at the
national level. The focal points in collaboration with indigenous peoples
and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. UNDP, ILO, UNFPA and UNEP) should
elaborate regional health plans and establish, develop, and implement
specific health strategies.
3.
Have annual meetings with the
IPHAG. WHO should make financial provisions for these meetings.
4.
Ensure that indigenous
peoples’ health issues are presented to the WHA by an indigenous peoples’
spokesperson (supported
by WHO) as was the case
in 1993.
5.
Ensure that Regional Offices
hold regular consultations with indigenous peoples to ensure that they
have an input in all issues relevant to the health of indigenous peoples.
6.
Seek to work together with
WIPO, WTO, and other key agencies in ensuring the protection of indigenous
peoples’ intellectual property as it relates to health (e.g. traditional
medicine), and identify best practises at the country level to protect
indigenous peoples’ intellectual property as it relates to health.
7.
Include, at all levels
(headquarters, regional offices, and country offices) in relevant
programmes components specifically addressing indigenous peoples’ health
issues. These programmes should be reviewed and the impact on indigenous
peoples evaluated. The review process should include input from
indigenous peoples health experts.
8.
Work with key international,
regional, and national organisations (e.g. WTO, MERCOSUR, ASEAN, UN
agencies and programmes) to promote policies and strategies that are
compatible with indigenous peoples’ health development.
9.
Develop, with the IPHAG, a
global plan of action for indigenous peoples’ health following regional
consultations with indigenous peoples. An International Conference on
Indigenous Peoples’ Health should be held by the end of 2001 to endorse
this plan and to provide a forum for developing new strategies and
engaging in constructive dialogue aimed at improving indigenous peoples’
health globally.
10.
Following the International
Conference, hold International Consultations on the health of indigenous
peoples every two years to assess the health situation of indigenous
peoples and then seek support from Member States and other stakeholders. |
