I have provided here a copy of my presentations to the 61st Session (2005) of the Commission on Human Rights.

Written Statements

FAIRA Statement Item 10 - Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

FAIRA Statement Item 15 - Indigenous Issues

Oral Statements

FAIRA Intervention Item 6 - Racism

FAIRA Intervention Item 7 - Right to Development

FAIRA Intervention Item 10 - Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

FAIRA Intervention Item 15 - Indigenous Issues

FAIRA Intervention Item 17 - (b) Human Rights Defenders

FAIRA Intervention Item 18 - Human Rights Mechanisms

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FUTURE WORK ON THE DRAFT DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

There has been some lobbying by Indigenous delegations at this session of the Commission meeting to address the slow progress in adopting the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Two separate views are being expressed by delegations. One view is that the meetings of the Working Group should be stopped for one or two years, and the other view is that the meetings should proceed uninterrupted. The difference in views arises out of strategic considerations of the best way to complete the work.

Those wanting to temporarily halt the meetings believe that the strength of the declaration is being eroded and that it is time to take a strong stand to defend the original text and target States which are trying to weaken the declaration. They consider it is time for all Indigenous Peoples around the world to consider the next steps.

The alternative view is that the Working Group meetings will not re-commence if they are stopped. The strategy is seen as wrong because conservative States will prevent the initiation of a second round of negotiations.

The Indigenous Caucus has not considered the actions and there is not a consensus on which actions should be taken. It is important with these different lobbies to avoid as much as possible creating a situation of confusion amongst States, particularly those that may want to support Indigenous positions. Some discussions are now occuring on the email and web networks.

This discussion will continue throughout the session of the Commission and efforts will be made to gain a Caucus position. This is not likely particularly as some groups are presenting the view that Caucus should not pre-empt the views of the groups that are not able to attend the Session.

I will try to provide some of the source documents on this site, but only if I feel capable of giving an objective overview.

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CHR STARTS DRAFTING RESOLUTIONS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The time has come for the Commission on Human Rights to start drafting the resolutions on Indigenous Peoples. The resolutions on Indigenous issues are due to be formally lodged by 13 April. Last year, four resolutions were prepared by sponsor States. These resolutions had mixed reactions - two were adopted without a vote, and two were adopted by majority vote. In addition to the resolutions the Commission adopted, without a vote, one decision on Indigenous Peoples.

All four resolutions are expected to be presented again this year, with minimal changes. The four resolutions and one decision, which were passed at last year's session, were:

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations (2004/57) (VOTE 38 for;15 against)

The Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples (2004/58 ) (VOTE 38 for; 2 against; 13 abstained)

Working Group to elaborate a Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2004/59)

Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights (2004/62)

DECISION - Human Rights implications, particularly for Indigenous People, of the disappearance of States for environmental reasons (2004/122)

For this 61st Session of the Commission, the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has drafted three resolutions and two decisions for consideration. These decisions and resolutions, which will be taken into account along with the repeat versions of the above four resolutions, are:

DRAFT RESOLUTION - Protection of Indigenous Peoples in time of conflict

DRAFT DECISION - 4. Final report on the study "Indigenous Peoples' permanent sovereignty over natural resources"

DRAFT DECISION - 5. The legal implications of disappearance of States and other territories for environmental reasons, including the implications for the human rights of their residents, with particular reference to the rights of indigenous peoples

DRAFT DECISION - 7. Working Group on Indigenous Populations

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