Action needed now to end abuse of world’s indigenous peoples – UN (fwd)

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Action needed now to end abuse of world’s indigenous peoples – UN
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11582&Cr=indigenous&Cr1=people#

9 August 2004 – The United Nations today marked the International Day of
the World’s Indigenous People with calls to governments,
intergovernmental organizations and the international community
at-large for urgent action to end the gross human rights abuses,
discrimination and marginalization that all too often are still their
lot in society.

“For far too long, indigenous peoples’ lands have been taken away, their
cultures denigrated or directly attacked, their languages and customs
suppressed, their wisdom and traditional knowledge overlooked or
exploited, and their sustainable ways of developing natural resources
dismissed,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

“Some have even faced the threat of extinction,” he added in a message
observing the 10th anniversary of the Day, which also marks the closing
year of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People
proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness about the
situation of indigenous people.

“Governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil society must
work to empower indigenous peoples and ensure their participation in
decisions that affect their lives,” he declared.

The Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation of indigenous
peoples of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Rodolfo Stavenhagen,
voiced deep concern over continuing reports of gross violations against
indigenous peoples worldwide.

“Despite the progress made over the past 10 years, at the national and
international levels, indigenous peoples the world over continue to be
among the most marginalized and dispossessed sectors of society, the
victims of perennial prejudice and discrimination,” he declared.

Mr. Stavenhagen noted the “brutal killing” just last week of an
indigenous human rights activist in Colombia, Fredy Arias, allegedly by
a member of a paramilitary group, and called on the Colombian
Government to investigate this and other such violations and bring
those responsible to justice without delay.

“Indigenous peoples are also the victims of other types of violations,”
he added. “In too many places they lack access to basic services and
continue to suffer multiple forms of discrimination elsewhere. I call
on Governments to make real progress on their commitment to improve the
living and human rights conditions of indigenous peoples. Rhetoric must
become a thing of the past; action is what is needed now.”