COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS PARTICIPATION OF 45 ORGANIZATIONS IN HUMAN RIGHTS WORKING GROUP

18 October 1995

Press Release
NGO/260

COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMENDS PARTICIPATION OF 45 ORGANIZATIONS IN HUMAN RIGHTS WORKING GROUP

19951018 To Prepare Draft Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations this afternoon recommended the participation of 45 organizations in a working group of the Commission on Human Rights that will draft a declaration on the rights of indigenous people.

The Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 1995/32 of 25 July, requested the Committee to examine applications, together with any views received from the States concerned, and recommend to it those organizations which should be authorized to participate in the open-ended inter-sessional working group.

The following non-governmental organizations were approved for participation:

Australia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commission; Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation; Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, Inc.; Indigenous Women Aboriginal Corporation; National Committee to Defend Black Rights; Northern Land Council; Kimberly Land Council; Central Land Council; and IINA Torres Strait Islander Corporation.

Canada: Inuit Taparistat of Canada; Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations; The Metis National Council; Louis Bull Cree Nation; Ermineskin Cree Nation; Montana Cree Nation. The Committee took no action on an application from the International Organization of Indigenous Resource Development, since that organization already had consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and did not need further approval to participate.

Chile: Coordinadora Nacional Indianista; Confederacion Regional de Communidades Mapuche; Federacion de Centros de Servicios Communitarios de Maquehue; Asociacion Gremial Maouche Rewe; Consejo Inter-Regional Mapuche; Comunidad Mapuche Maicolpi de San Juan de la Costa; Aukin Wallmapu Ngulam- Consejo de Todas Las Tierras Mapuche.

New Zealand: Wellington Maori Legal Services Inc.; Te Amorangi Maori Women's Support Group; Te Kawau Maro; Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre; Aotearoa Community Workers Association Inc.; Ngaiterangi Iwi Incorporated Society; Te Ropu Wahini Maori Toko i Te Ora Inc.; Ngaati Te Ata.

Committee on NGOs - 2 - Press Release NGO/260 580th Meeting (PM) 18 October 1995

Norway: Sami National Association.

Peru: Comision Juridica para el Autodessarollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos (CAPAJ); Comision Juridica de los Pueblos de Integracion Tawantinsuyana (COJPITA); Asociacion Civil Tea-Amora Runa.

United States: Educational and Cultural Organization to Advance Restoration and Transition; International Confederation of Autonomous Chapters of the American Indian Movement (AIM Confederation); The Independent Nation State of Hawaii; Black Hills Teton Sioux Nation; American Indian Law Alliance; The Hopi Tribe/The Hopi Cultural Preservation Office; Oneida Indian Nation; Catawba Indian Nation; Lummi Indian Business Council; Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs; Ikce Wicasa Ta Omniciye.

The Committee deferred the application of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, pending consideration of a reservation expressed by the Government of Nigeria.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations will consider additional applications of organizations seeking to participate in the drafting of the declaration on the rights of indigenous people at a date to be announced.

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