This is my first attempt to put together a complete website. I hope that you like the format and content. The pages are still under development but I am looking forward to providing plenty of information over the weeks ahead, during March and April 2005. This is the period of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Keep track on the indigenous issues and related events at the United Nations. Also I will try to keep tabs on the important indigenous news from Australia.
**CERD NEWS**
**CERD NEWS**
**CERD NEWS**
AUSTRALIA'S HAS ONE YEAR TO FIX LAND RIGHTS
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called for the government of Australia to end its racist laws which discriminate against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Australia has been asked to report in twelve months time on the progress made.
A tense exchange occurred between the government and the Committee about the previous report which also attacked Australia's racism and failure to provide a guarantee against racism for the Aboriginal people.
CHR CHALLENGED OVER INDIGENOUS RIGHTSThe 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights has commenced in Geneva. The Commission meets from 14 March to 22 April. Indigenous delegations to the session have challenged the progress made on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. One group has called for the Working Group to be suspended for one or two years while another group has advocated continuation. Both groups want progress. For more information see the CHR 61 page.
The end of ATSIC creates a new set of challenges for the government. Now how will government address Aboriginal disadvantage caused by government racist policies of the past? More racist policies?
PACIFIC CONSULTATION WORKSHOP
26-28 April 2005
Brisbane, Australia
The 2nd Pacific Workshop in preparation for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is being held in Brisbane at the end of April. The workshop is being hosted by FAIRA. The purpose of the workshop is to prepare delegations for the agenda of the Permanent Forum and to compile a regional report. It is expected that fifty delegates will attend the workshop from fifteen countries in the Pacific region.
DOWNLOAD the letter to delegates
Persons wishing to attend the workshop as delegates should email <les.malezer@faira.org.au>.
The United Nations has declared the Second Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The Plan of Action for the Second Decade is to be implemented and coordinated by the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Indigenous Peoples organizations are invited to submit suggestions for a comprehensive programme of action for the Second Decade by 20 April 2005. The information and proposals received will form the basis for a report to the General Assembly. Correspondence should be addressed to:
Secretariat, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Division for Social Policy and DevelopmentDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs
Room DC2-1772
United Nations
New York
NY 10017
Fax: (917) 367-5102
Email: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org
Here is a site worth a visit - Sezin's site - especially to find out what happens at the UN meetings relevant to Indigenous Peoples