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International: The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
December 2006
IWGIA has collected a number of articles, statements and press releases on the process from the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Human Rights Council to the decision of the non-action resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee.
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International: Human rights organizations condemn efforts to block the Declaration
December 2006
International human rights organizations are outraged and dismayed by the decision of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly to defer adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Read the statement
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Declaration: UN General Assembly fails to bring hope to indigenous peoples
November 2006
The process of adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples came to a halt on Tuesday November 27. A non-action resolution put forward by the Namibian delegation was supported by a majority in the UN General Assembly's Third Committee. This means that there will be no voting on the Declaration during the present plenary session of the General Assembly. The Declaration was formally adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in June and recommeded for adoption by the General Assembly. This non-action resolution is a serious set-back for the universal protection of indigenous peoples rights.
Read IWGIA's statement
Read Indigenous Peoples' Caucus' statement
Read First Nations Leadership Council's statement
Read Inuit Circumpolar Council and Saami Council's statement
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International: Diabetes threatens many of world's indigenous people
November 2006
Rapid cultural transition to a Western diet and sedentary lifestyle has led to diabetes replacing infectious diseases as the number one threat to the survival of indigenous peoples.
Read the article
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International: New report on violence against indigenous women
November 2006
The International Indigenous Women's Forum has released a report titled "Mairin Iwanka Raya: Indigenous Women Stand against Violence". With a focus on the particular contexts that give rise to violence against Indigenous women, the report highlights promising practices in the areas of research, political mobilizations, and community-based civil society organizations and outlines further challenges to securing Indigenous women's right to a life free of violence.
Read more and download the report
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International: New report on indigenous human rights
August 2006
On the occasion of the International Day of the Indigenous Peoples the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) has released a 45- pages long documentation about indigenous human rights worldwide.
Download the report
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International: 24th session of the WGIP
August 2006
The 24th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations was held in Geneva from 31 July – 4 August 2006. The theme for this session was "Utilization of indigenous peoples’ land by non-indigenous authorities, groups or individuals for military purposes". All documents and statements will be available at the following website: www.docip.org
Read the presentation by Johnson Ole Kaunga, Kenya
Read the presentation by Alim Bandara, the Philippines
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International: World Indigenous Peoples Day
August 2006
August 3, indigenous peoples celebrate the World Indigenous Peoples Day. However, it is also a day of reflection on the serious human rights situation facing many indigenous peoples.
Read the joint statement by CEMIRIDE and INN, Africa
Read the message by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
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International: Book on tourism and indigenous peoples
July 2006
The book Is the Sacred for Sale? looks at the commodification of indigenous cultures and the effects of tourism on world biodiversity.
Read more about the book and order
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International: The official report of the first HR Council meeting
July 2006
The report contains all the decisions made, including the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (p. 56-58). The final form of the Declaration is also part of the report (p. 58-73).
Download the report (PDF)
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International: Human Rights Council passes indigenous declaration
June 2006
Yesterday, June 29, the Human Rights Council adopted by a roll-call vote of 30 in favour to 2 against and 12 abstentions a resolution on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Read more about the adoption of the Declaration
Read the article on ABC News Online
Read the coverage on HR Council Media centre
Read the indigenous peoples' closing statement
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International: The Human Rights Council and the Draft Declaration
June 2006
During the first session of the newly established Human Rights Council, the issue of adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is being debated. IWGIA has collected a number of documents that provide insight into the debate relating to the Declaration.
Excerpts from statements indicating support for the Declaration
Special Rapporteur urges HR Council to adopt the Declaration
Article by Kenneth Deer: "Canada blind to its purpose"
Text of the resolution tabled by the Government of Peru and co-sponsored by other 20 States to adopt the Declaration
Public statement by Amnesty International Canada and the Native Women's Association of Canada
Statement from the indigenous caucus: "Why Canada's proposal to delay adoption should not be supported"
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International: Amnesty presenting important statement in the Human Rights Council session
June 2006
Today, Tuesday 28, a statement will be read by Amnesty International at the Human Rights Council session urging the Council to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The statement is supported by a large number of NGOs.
Read the NGO statement under Agenda Item: Reports of mechanisms and mandates (WG on draft Indigenous Declaration)
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International: PFII chairperson addresses the Human Rights Council
June 2006
Chairperson of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), Victoria Tauli-Corpus, recommended in her speach to the Human Rights Council, among other things, that the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should be adopted and the role of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples be maintained.
Read the PFII chairperson's speach to the Human Rights Council
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International: Canada stalling UN declaration on indigenous peoples
June 2006
Canada is seeking changes to the wording of a draft declaration on indigenous peoples' rights at the new Human Rights Council. Amnesty International says that Canada has teamed with the United States and Australia to stop the United Nations from passing a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Read the article by Lisa Schlein
Read the article by Sylvain Larocque
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International: Human Rights Council holds its first session
June 2006
The first meeting of the newly established Human Rights Council opens in Geneva on Monday, 19 June. Besides establishing the format of the universal periodic review, the Council is under pressure to adopt two important documents: the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and the draft convention against enforced disappearances.
Read the first press release
Coverage of the session can be found at HR Council Media Centre
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International: Indigenous government is a key aspect of development
June 2006
One of the most relevant documents that was circulating in the 5th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, points out the importance of strengthening the government structures and institutions of the indigenous peoples in favour of an effective and sustainable development of the indigenous communities.
Read the article by Servindi
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International: 5th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
May 2006
The 5th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues taking place in New York ended May 26. The theme of the 5th session was "The Millennium Development Goals and indigenous peoples: Re-defining the Millennium Development Goals".
Read the various press releases at the UN News Centre
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International: Indigenous peoples' health - 'worst-off world over'
May 2006
A major investigation launched by the medical journal The Lancet into indigenous health finds that the health of indigenous people worldwide is much worse than that of other communities. This week The Lancet begins a series of Reviews and Articles, a Viewpoint, and additional online material on indigenous health.
Visit The Lancet's website
Read the BBC news coverage
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International: UN launches Programme of Action for 2nd Decade for Indigenous Peoples
May 2005
May 15, during the 5th Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the launch of the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples - an initiative offering recommendations on the environment, development, education, health and human rights.
Read more about the Programme of Action at the UN News Centre
Find the Programme of Action on IWGIA's website
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International: Members for the new Human Rights Council elected
May 2006
May 9 the General Assembly elected the members of the newly established Human Rights Council (HRC). The HRC has replaced the Commission on Human Rights, which had come under fire for excessive politicization. Term of office for the members of HRC will begin on 19 June 2006.
See the list of elected members
Read more about the election result at Human Rights Watch's website
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International: Speak UP - A Brochure on Indigenous Children, Youth and UNPFII
May 2006
The Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) has just released a brochure on Indigenous Children, Youth and UNPFII. The brochure indroduces some issues related to Indigenous children and youth in addition to encouraging the participation of young indigenous people in the Sessions of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Download the brochure (PDF)
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International: Commission on Human Rights replaced by a new Human Rights Council
March 2006
On March 15, 2006 United Nations Member States approved the establishment of a new Human Rights Council to replace the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights, which has come under fire for excessive politicization. The resolution was adopted by vote of 170 in favour to 4 against (including United States), with 3 abstentions. The Council is aiming to strengthen the world body's machinery to promote and protect fundamental rights, and deal with major human rights offenders.
Read more about the new Human Rights Council
Read the newsletter of The Danish Institute for Human Rights and International Service for Human Rights
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International: CERD issues its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Guyana and Botswana
March 2006
In February/March 2006 the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 68th session, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Committee spent most of its three-week session reviewing the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Botswana, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Guyana were among the countries being examined and the Committee raised some important issues and concerns.
Read the concluding observations and recommendations on the country reports
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The UN Reform: Establishment of a UN Human Rights Council
January 2006
In March 2005, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed the establishment of a new standing UN Human Rights Council. This body would replace the existing UN Commission on Human Rights, the legitimacy of which has been increasingly undermined by the politically selective character of its work. IWGIA has made a background paper looking at the process of the negotiations as well as the current status.
Read the background paper by IWGIA
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