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Governments infringe on indigenous rights

RIGHTS: Govts Failing Indigenous Declaration, U.N. Expert Says By Haider Rizvi UNITED NATIONS, Oct 19 (IPS) – A top U.N. expert on human rights law called Monday for governments to match their words with deeds and make good on promises to respect indigenous communities’ right to live as they wish.“The indigenous peoples are suffering everywhere,” James Anaya, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights of indigenous peoples, told a news conference after submitting a comprehensive report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee………………..
“States must act,” said Anaya, who just returned from Russia to observe indigenous peoples’ situation there. Since beginning his mandate, he has visited Brazil, Nepal, Botswana, Australia, Peru, Colombia and Chile.

Reflecting on his trips to these countries, said the problems facing indigenous peoples were of a “systemic nature” because colonial domination over indigenous populations has persisted for so long. “It has been centuries,” he noted. ………..

The government justifies infringement on indigenous land by claiming that commercial use of the land would generate jobs and lead to development.

The U.N. declaration, however, is very clear on this issue, requiring “free, prior, and informed consent” of indigenous peoples for any activity that is geared towards commercial gains on their traditional territories.

RIGHTS: Govts Failing Indigenous Declaration, U.N. Expert Says – IPS ipsnews.net

October 21, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, 2 WORLD, indigenous issues | antinuclear, indigenous, nuclear