INDIGENOUS PEOPLE: A NEW PARTNERSHIP
1993: THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR
The 1993 International Year for the World's Indigenous People,
launched by the United Nations General Assembly in New York on
Human Rights Day, 10 December 1992, "will provide an opportunity
to focus the attention of the international community on one of
the planet's most neglected and vulnerable groups of people",
according to Antoine Blanca, United Nations Coordinator for the
Year.
To mark the Year -- a landmark event in the history of
indigenous peoples' struggle for survival and recognition of their
rights -- the United Nations family of organizations will evaluate
and enhance its programmes and activities relating to indigenous
peoples. International efforts will be aimed at strengthening
global cooperation for solving the problems faced by indigenous
communities in areas such as human rights, environment,
development, education and health. A major public awareness
campaign will be mounted to inform the international community
about the issues and concerns of indigenous peoples --
particularly their strong views on land, resources and the kind of
development they want for their future generations.
Perhaps most important, indigenous peoples themselves will be
given a platform to convey their message and to promote an
understanding of their cultures and ways of life. Says Erica-Irene
A. Daes, Chairperson/Rapporteur of the Working Group on Indigenous
Populations, "Indigenous peoples have told us that their human
rights are part of a total quest for well-being. This holistic
approach, which recognizes the interconnection of development,
peace, environment and human rights issues, is one which is
increasingly recognized by the United Nations itself.... We do not
want the International Year to be a lot of empty words; we want
there to be real advances".
BACKGROUND Indigenous peoples are descendants of the original
inhabitants of many lands, strikingly diverse in their cultures,
religions and patterns of social and economic organization. An
estimated 300 million indigenous people live in more than 70
countries, from the Arctic regions to the Amazon and Australia.
For centuries, however, their special relationship to the
land -- an elemental symbiosis crucial to their survival -- has
been threatened by colonialists and the demands of others for
living space, food and resources. Today, indigenous peoples are
among the most disadvantaged groups on Earth. When integrated
into a national society, they confront discrimination and
exploitation and often suffer under the worst living conditions.
Those remaining on their traditional territories face disruption
of their cultures and physical displacement as their lands are
claimed for national development.
Indigenous peoples have been demanding justice from the
international community for many years. They have organized
locally, nationally and regionally and are active in the
international arena, seeking respect for their cultures and ways
of life and full participation in decision-making processes that
affect them. A generation ago, many indigenous peoples were not
entitled to vote. Today they are increasingly visible partners in
the struggle to protect the global environment and promote
sustainable development and resource use.
THE ISSUES
Improvements in the condition of the world's indigenous peoples
will depend on action taken on many issues, among them:
* Land;
* Self-government and self-development;
* Resources;
* Environment;
* Culture, Language and Education;
* Health; and
* Social and economic conditions.
OBJECTIVES
The Year's theme -- "Indigenous people - a new partnership" --
will encourage the development of new relationships between States
and indigenous peoples and between the international community and
indigenous peoples. This new partnership must be equitable and
based on mutual respect and understanding. Toward that end, the
Year will foster:
* Participation of indigenous people in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of projects affecting their living
conditions and future. This is to be achieved through meetings
and consultations with organizations of indigenous people.
* Projects for indigenous peoples. These are to be promoted
through consultations between indigenous communities and States as
well as between indigenous peoples and the appropriate United
Nations agencies. They will be assisted by the newly created
United Nations Voluntary Fund for the International Year for the
World's Indigenous People.
* Knowledge about standards for protecting the rights of
indigenous peoples. This means cultivating an awareness among
indigenous peoples of the draft Universal Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples being prepared by the United Nations
Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) Convention (No. 169) on Indigenous and Tribal
Peoples and other appropriate international legislation.
* A programme to promote public awareness of the situation of
indigenous peoples and the threats to their existence. This will
be done through special observances, meetings and other
promotional and cultural activities as well as through media
coverage.
PLANNING FOR THE YEAR
The General Assembly has appointed the Under-Secretary-General for
Human Rights as Coordinator for the Year's activities and the
Centre for Human Rights in Geneva as the coordinating body. The
Centre is working in conjunction with the ILO and other United
Nations agencies and offices. A small Secretariat, including
indigenous people, has been established in the Centre to assist
the Coordinator.
A programme of activities and projects for the Year is being
finalized on the basis of consultations with representatives of
governments and indigenous peoples. To that end, the General
Assembly has adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken at
the national and international levels.
States were invited to adopt the following measures to ensure the
Year's success:
* Designate a contact person for the Year in the appropriate
ministry and establish national committees composed of
governmental, indigenous and non-governmental representatives
to prepare a national programme of activities;
* Raise public awareness through information and education
projects;
* Promote indigenous initiatives in areas such as radio and
television and model projects on education, health,
employment, housing and the environment;
* Present information, prepared in partnership with
indigenous people, about the situation prevailing in the
country and the activities initiated during the Year;
* Encourage participation of indigenous people in the
preparation and implementation of all activities undertaken
in connection with the Year; and
* Encourage indigenous organizations and communities to
prepare their own programmes and activities.
At the international level, the General Assembly recommended
that the United Nations system:
* Increase its cooperation, coordination and technical
assistance for the solution of problems faced by indigenous
communities in areas such as human rights, the environment,
development, education and health;
* Fund concrete projects for indigenous communities,
reflecting the wishes of indigenous people, that can have a
direct benefit to them;
* Increase publicity, especially to indigenous peoples, on
the work of the United Nations in areas related to the
objectives of the Year;
* Increase awareness of the existence of relevant
international legal instruments related to the objectives of
the Year and promote their widespread ratification and
implementation;
* Establish networks of indigenous organizations and
communities for the sharing of information and experience in
fields such as health care, bilingual education and resource
and environmental management;
* Contract or second indigenous organizations or persons with
relevant expertise in carrying out projects for the benefit
of indigenous communities;
* Promote an international trade fair of indigenous products;
and
* Provide technical assistance to governments wishing to make
provisions in their legislation for protecting and promoting
the human rights of indigenous people, in particular on
questions of land, environmental protection and strengthening
cultural identity, and provide technical and financial
assistance for implementing such legislation.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Indigenous peoples: The Year was requested by indigenous
organizations and the principal guidance for activities is to be
provided by them. The Centre for Human Rights will maintain
contact with the representatives of indigenous peoples and help to
keep them informed of planned activities worldwide. Organizations
of indigenous peoples are invited to contact the Centre about
their own plans and suggestions for the Year.
Governments: The Secretary-General of the United Nations has
opened a Voluntary Fund for the International Year for the World's
Indigenous People, to which governments are invited to contribute.
Governments are also encouraged to consult with their own
indigenous peoples and to promote programmes and activities during
the Year. All countries, including those having no indigenous
peoples, can contribute to the success of the Year through
educational and cultural events focusing on indigenous peoples.
Non-governmental organizations: NGOs involved in human
rights, development, environment, health, education or numerous
other issues have an important role to play during the Year by
focusing on the needs of indigenous people and developing
appropriate projects with them.
The media: Raising public awareness is a major objective of
the Year. Print, radio and film media are encouraged to focus on
the situation of indigenous people.
Concerned institutions and individuals: The success of the
Year will depend heavily upon individuals and institutions that
are not directly involved in United Nations activities.
Organizations, schools, universities and youth groups, among
others, are encouraged to take an interest in the Year and to
develop appropriate activities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
The International Year for the World's Indigenous People Centre
for Human Rights United Nations 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland
OR:
The International Year for the World's Indigenous People
Department of Public Information Room S-1040 United Nations New
York, New York 10017 U.S.A.