OHCHR Round-table on indigenous peoples issuesOpening statement by Mary RobinsonHigh Commissioner for Human Rights

5 September 2001


Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to open this morning's parallel event on indigenous peoples.

As we meet to discuss some of the recent developments affecting indigenous peoples that have taken place in the United Nations over the last 12 months or so, we are nearing the end of a lengthy process of debate and negotiation to adopt a strong and commanding declaration and programme of action to combat racism and build a world community built around respect for cultural diversity.

Indigenous peoples, I am pleased to say, have been active partners in the discussions leading up to this Durban Conference. Indigenous peoples continue to be vigilant in looking for tangible results from these combined efforts in the final document of the Conference. Indigenous peoples must necessarily be one of the major beneficiaries of the Conference.

I understand the concerns of indigenous peoples in relation to the draft declaration and programme of action, in particular the three paragraphs 26, 27 and 51 of the current draft which, in the view of indigenous peoples, restrict their rights. I know that a number of governments delegations are working hard to respond to these concerns, and I stongly encourage states and indigenous representatives to continue these discussions with the aim of reaching a solution that is mutually acceptable.

However, even if agreement on the most difficult issues cannot be reached amongst states, or between government and indigenous representatives, I hope that indigenous peoples will not walk away from this document. Your views on these difficult paragraphs have been heard. At the same time, a number of other paragraphs represent real advances for indigenous peoples. There are some strong statements in the draft declaration. Please look at paragraphs 47 and 49, for example. In the programme of action, the need for greatly increasing resources for indigenous peoples is stressed.

Most importantly, the use of the « s » in peoples throughout the text represents a clear recognition by the vast majority of states of the collective rights of indigenous peoples and will hopefully facilitate the discussions in the working group on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

I look forward to working to implement the provisions in the conference documents in the context of the follow-up to this conference - and I expect states to reflect these positive provisions in their national action plans to combat racism.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This morning's roundtable discussions are designed to give participants at the Durban Conference an opportunity to exchange information, contribute comment, and make proposals in connection with a number of key indigenous issues.

I have said on other occasions that this year is a watershed in indigenous affairs at the United Nations. It has been the year of intensive preparations for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It has seen the decision by the Commission on Human Rights to establish a Special Rapporteur to address indigenous peoples concerns and since June Mr Rodolfo Stavenhagen from Mexico has been appointed to this position. In July, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations met in Geneva with over 1,200 participants making it one of the largest international gatherings of indigenous peoples of the year. It highlighted the theme "Indigenous peoples right to development including their right to participate in development affecting them". I am pleased that Erica-Irene Daes and Miguel Alfonso Martinez are with us today.

I should say that I am full of admiration at the way in which indigenous delegations, despite the difficulties of travel and the limited financial resources, have managed to be present in so many international events and make their views known.

Allow me say a few words about some of the matters that we thought would be of interest at this roundtable.

The ECOSOC has now taken a number of important decisions concerning the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It has been confirmed by the Conference Services in New York that the first session of the Forum will take place in New York from 6 - 17 May 2002, as recommended by ECOSOC. The Council also recommended that the membership of the new Forum be decided not later than 15 December 2001.

On 9 and 10 August, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights organized in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade for the World's Indigenous People and the UN Specialized Agencies a two-day workshop on the Permanent Forum. It was a great success, attracting more than 600 participants.

The Office of the High Commissioner has been holding its own consultations with our partner organizations in the UN system to discuss how we can make our contribution to the success of the Forum. An inter-agency steering group on the Forum has been meeting regularly to look at the practical steps that need to be taken for the preparations, including the possibilities of establishing a technical support team to carry out all the daily and necessary work of preparation. Your discussions today might well focus on the substantive aspects of the Forum.

One important element that I believe needs to be stressed is the need for the Forum to start its work with a full conference room when it first meets in New York. The Forum should become the major assembly for indigenous peoples and communities and I believe the strength of the Forum will derive both from the quality and commitment of the 16 members as well as the from diversity and expertise of the indigenous observer participants. I therefore wish to appeal to all those institutions, governments, and non-governmental organizations that give support to indigenous peoples to make preparations for assisting indigenous peoples attend the first session of the Forum.

The newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people was invited to Geneva during the week of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in order to meet indigenous peoples, governmental delegations and colleagues from United Nations organizations and specialized agencies. I am pleased he is also able to be with us for this roundtable to exchange views on his mandate and methods of work.

There will also be an opportunity at the roundtable to discuss progress in the Commission's inter-sessional working group on the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. I am pleased to say that Mr Luis-Enrique Chavez, the Chairman-Rapporteur of the working group is in Durban and is able to take part in today's programme. The discussion today and the informal consultations that the Chairman is able to hold with governments and indigenous peoples will hopefully be helpful in building greater confidence and flexibility.

Finally, I want to present to you the newly published "United Nations Guide for Indigenous Peoples". The Guide is a practical tool for indigenous peoples and gives a reader-friendly overview of the work of the United Nations human rights mechanisms. It is available at the moment in English, French and Spanish and will be published in the other UN languages in due course.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Before concluding, I would like to invite David Decoine of the United Native Nations Society to come up and present the Declaration of the Indigenous Youth Delegates who attended the Youth Summit.