UN rights officials call on countries to back declaration on indigenous peoples (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

UN rights officials call on countries to back declaration on indigenous peoples

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27640&Cr=Indigenous&Cr1=

8 August 2008 – Two senior United Nations human rights officials called today
for political commitment from States and the support of the public at large to
fulfill the rights of indigenous peoples around the globe, in a joint statement
released on the eve of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang and the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of
indigenous people. S. James Anaya, both lauded the adoption of the Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples last year by the General Assembly, but said
that it “will not in itself change the everyday lives of the men, women and
children whose rights it champions.”

“For this we need the political commitment of States, international cooperation,
and the support and good will of the public at large, to create and implement a
range of intensely practical programmes, designed and undertaken in
consultation with indigenous peoples themselves,” they said.

The Declaration lays down minimum standards for the survival, dignity and
well-being of the world’s estimated 5,000 indigenous groups, comprising as many
as 370 million people.

In a separate statement, Mr. Anaya expressed his concern at reports of arbitrary
displacement and other abuses suffered by members of the Charco la Pava
community, which is part of the Ngöbe indigenous community in Bocas del Toro
Province in Panama, where the construction of a hydroelectric project, called
CHAN 75, is taking place.

“I observe with concern the human rights violations suffered by members of the
Charco la Pava community, such as arbitrary displacement from their lands, loss
of housing and destruction of agricultural crops, and other abuses such as the
excessive use of force and detaining of members of the community that have
opposed the construction of the hydroelectric project, including women and
children.”

Mr. Anaya said he was concerned that the situation was deteriorating, and that,
given the presence of an armed police force in the area, the situation could
worsen. He said he had information that the AES Changuinola Company was moving
ahead without the control or the supervision of the government authorities.

He added that the project could result in the complete flooding of the Charco la
Pava community, without obtaining their informed consent.

In another development today, the UN refugee agency said that forced
displacement was devastating the lives of indigenous people in Colombia.

“There are around a million indigenous people in Colombia, belonging to more
than 80 different Indian-American groups with over 60 separate languages.
Nearly all of these groups have been victims of forced displacement or are
threatened by it as a result of the internal armed conflict,” Ron Redmond,
spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said today. Mr.
Redmond added that every year between 10,000 and 20,000 indigenous people are
registered by national authorities after being forced to flee from their lands,
stressing that the economic, social and cultural survival of indigenous
communities depends on their very strong links with their ancestral land.

“In many cases, losing their territory and moving into the entirely foreign
environment of the cities threatens the very survival of the group and its
individual members,” he said.

Also on the eve of the International Day, the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) said that indigenous peoples were especially vulnerable to
the effects of climate change.

“Indigenous peoples are among the first to suffer from increasingly harsh and
erratic weather conditions, and a generalized lack of empowerment to claim
goods and services to which other population groups have greater access,”
Regina Laub, FAO focal point for indigenous peoples, said today.

FAO stressed that indigenous peoples also had a critical role to play in
supporting global adaptation to climate change.

“Indigenous communities are often the custodians of unique knowledge and skills,
and the genetic and biological diversity in plant and animal production that may
be vital in adapting to climate change. Approximately 80 per cent of the world’s
remaining biodiversity is found within indigenous peoples’ territories,” the
agency said.

Also today, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said that
indigenous people all over the world are stewards of an immense wealth of
diversity and that their existence is crucial to sustaining development in the
countries where they live.

Speaking at an event in New York to commemorate the International Day, she said
the UN was firmly committed to promoting and protecting the rights of every
human being – regardless of background, creed or culture.