Ecuador: UN expert on indigenous peoples to visit Nov. 19-29

Spanish

GENEVA (15 November 2018) – The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, will visit Ecuador from 19 to 29 November.

“My visit takes place at a symbolic time for Ecuador, 10 years after the adoption of the Constitution which widely recognises the collective rights of indigenous peoples,” said Tauli-Corpuz.

The Special Rapporteur will assess the implementation of the Constitution in light of Ecuador’s international human rights commitments, particularly with respect to indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination and to lands, territories and natural resources. She will also assess the situation of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the Amazon. 
           
“I am particularly interested in learning about Ecuador’s experience in building a truly plurinational and intercultural society, including through adequate consultation processes with indigenous peoples, intercultural health and bilingual education systems as well as harmonisation of the ordinary and traditional justice systems,” Tauli-Corpuz said.
           
The UN independent expert will travel to the provinces of Azuay, Imbabura, Morona Santiago, Pastaza, Sucumbíos and Zamora Chinchipe amongst others. She will meet with representatives of Ecuador’s indigenous peoples and nationalities, as well as with government officials, representatives of civil society, academics and members of the international community.

A news conference to share the expert’s preliminary findings will be held in Quito on 29 November at 11 am at the Swissotel. Access is strictly limited to journalists. 

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in September 2019.

ENDS

Ms Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (The Philippines), the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, is an indigenous leader from the Kankana-ey Igorot people of the Cordillera Region in the Philippines. As an indigenous leader, she has worked for over three decades on building movement among indigenous peoples and as an advocate for women's rights.  Ms. Tauli-Corpuz is the former Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-2010). She was actively engaged in drafting and adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.  

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Ecuador 

For more information and media requests, please contact:
During the mission: Ms. Julia Raavad (jraavad@ohchr.org) and Ms. Paola Onofa (+502 5874 7154 / ponofa@ohchr.org) 

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact:
Mr. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org) 

This year, 2018, is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.