WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS TO HOLD SIXTEENTH SESSION DISCUSSIONS TO FOCUS ON ISSUES RELATED TO INDIGENOUS EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE

HR/98/49
21 July 1998


The Working Group on Indigenous Populations will hold its sixteenth session from 27 to 31 July 1998 in Room XVIII at the Palais des Nations. The Working Group meets annually and will focus this year on issues related to indigenous education and language.

The Working Group will debate difficulties for indigenous peoples to access education as well as practical experiences to improve the situation. Increasingly, indigenous peoples are also calling for their need to set up their own education systems in order to protect their language and culture and this will also be discussed.

The Group offers a unique experience within the United Nations for indigenous peoples to participate and exchange views and ideas. This year, around 800 persons will be participating, mostly indigenous representatives from all areas including far east Russia, Amazona, and southern Africa. The Working Group reports to the Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

Participants will hold a preliminary discussion on a study by Special Rapporteur Miguel Alfonso Martinez (Cuba) on treaties and agreements between States and indigenous populations. They will also debate a working paper by Special Rapporteur Erica-Irene Daes (Greece) on indigenous land rights. Other issues which will be raised during this meeting include the consideration of a permanent forum for indigenous people within the United Nations system and the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.

The International Day of World Indigenous People, which is marked every year on 9 August, will be celebrated on 31 July this year with a series of cultural events to coincide with the large gathering of indigenous representatives in Geneva for the Working Group.