International: Indigenous peoples' voices censured at UN
Rome - 15 February 2008
Indigenous Peoples’ representatives formally withdrew from the Working Group on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity to protest their exclusion from this meeting held at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Read the press release (web link) Read the Indigenous Peoples statement (web link)
United Nations experts welcome Australia’s apology to indigenous peoples
February 2008
18 February 2008 experts from the United Nations issued a statement where they welcome Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's speech and apology to Australia's aboriginal people. They stress the apology offered to the members of the Stolen Generation and welcome the Australian Government’s commitment to build a common future with the indigenous peoples of the country based on mutual respect.
Read the statement here (web link - OHCHR Media Center)
IWGIA welcomes the new Special Rapporteur Professor S. James Anaya
April 2008 IWGIA would like to congratulate Professor James Anaya on his appointment as new United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.
Read the note from IWGIA
Read more on the OHCHR website Read the press release from the Saami Paliamentary Council See the list of new Special Rapporteurs Read more: IWGIA publication on the UN Special Rapporteur
The Indigenous World 2008 is out
The Indigenous World 2008 is out and was launched in New York Tuesday April 22 2008 at the 7th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). This volume includes 60 country profiles and 5 reports on international processes. The Indigenous World 2008 is edited by Kathrin Wessendorf. Order a CD-ROM or a printed version by mailing iwgia@iwgia.org or download it for free from our download section.
Read more (internal link) Read the article about the book launch on 22 April in New York (doc)
7th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - April 21 - May 2, 2008 The special theme of this year's session is Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges. Read more on our 7th session webpage with links to UN News Center, YouTube videos, opening statement by Vicky Tauli Corpuz, press conferences etc.
Find more (Internal link) Updated May 27
Protection of indigenous media sought at the UN
May 2008
Indigenous advocates want the United Nations to help draft laws protecting the rights of Native people to own media and for the prosecution of those who kill or persecute their journalists.
Read the article in the Indian Country Today (web link)
