28 April 2008

MEDIA PERSPECTIVES
8th & 9th Meetings

SEVENTH SESSION
UN PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES
OFFICIAL WEB SITE


AUDIO BROADCASTS OF THE
7TH SESSION OF THE UN PERMANENT FORUM
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Tonya Gonella Frichner Permanent Forum Member North America Region	Mattias Ahren Saami lawyer Norway	Andrea Carmen International Indian Treaty Council

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UN NEWS SERVICE - INDIGENOUS PEOPLES


UN PRESS RELEASES AND MEDIA COVERAGE

Economic and Social Council
HR/4949
28 April 2008
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Seventh Session 8th & 9th Meetings (AM & PM))

PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES EXAMINES VALUE OF INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNDER UNIVERSAL REVIEW MECHANISM

Outgoing Special Rapporteur Says He Sees 'Great Possibilities' In Applying New Declaration as Framework for Protecting Indigenous Rights

Hearing from delegates on topics ranging from industrial encroachment of indigenous lands to the question of racial discrimination against native peoples, members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today examined the value of increased collaboration with the Human Rights Council under its universal review mechanism -- established by the Council to assess the human rights situation of United Nations Member States -- and called for indigenous rights to be prominently addressed at those reviews.

Rodolfo Stavenhagen
 (Outgoing) United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples

In his last address to the Forum before ending his tenure on 1 May, Rodolfo Stavenhagen (Mexico), the Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, said he saw "great possibilities" in applying the recently-adopted Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for the promotion and protection of indigenous rights.

As he reflected on the state of indigenous peoples' rights over the past few years, Mr. Stavenhagen said it had improved greatly in numerous countries, but showed "signs of retreat" in other countries. In his regular reports to the Human Rights Council, he had outlined the damaging impact of mega-development projects -- including hydroelectric, mining and forest activities -- on the lives of indigenous communities. He had also studied the lack of access to justice experienced by indigenous peoples, saying there was rampant discrimination against them.

He said he had made 11 official visits to different countries, along with numerous semi-official trips, each resulting in a country report to the Council. But Mr. Stavenhagen noted that the submission of a Special Rapporteur's recommendations were "the weakest point of all the special procedures, since neither the Council nor the United Nations had implementation mechanisms".

He said he had prepared a study on best practices for implementing the Declaration, and that it would fall to the succeeding Special Rapporteur, James Anaya of the United States, to work with the Permanent Forum to ensure that the principles enshrined within the Declaration became a reality. (complete Press Release available here)

 

James Anaya
(Incoming) United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples

JAMES ANAYA said many of the questions being asked addressed the "implementation gap" between the Declaration and the rights and lives of indigenous peoples on the ground. It was one thing to have the tremendous achievement of the Declaration, but that achievement would matter little if the real-life situation of indigenous peoples did not change. Nonetheless, the Declaration was the primary instrument for promoting the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples, and as such, it was a guide for the United Nations and its affiliated agencies, as well as for Member States.

Learn More about the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
on the Dialogue Between Nations web site

 

Background

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues met to conclude its discussion on implementation of recommendations on the mandated areas and on Millennium Development Goals. Following that they were scheduled to take up the item on human rights: dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and other special rapporteurs.

J. Wilton Littlechild	Ida Nicolaisen

Special Rapporteur Ida Nicolaisen presented her report on the structures, procedures and mechanisms that currently existed, or that might be established, to effectively address the human rights situation of indigenous peoples. The study had been conducted with Special Rapporteur Wilton Littlechild.

Note: Both Ms. Nicolaisen and Mr. Littlchild are former members of the Permanent Forum.