Press Conference by Indigenous Peoples’ Forum

 

While indigenous people continued to suffer in the face of massive development projects that stripped their lands of precious traditional resources and displaced their communities en masse, “we are at the dawn of a new sunrise”, Carlos Mamani, Chairperson the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, said today at a Headquarters press conference.

“We can look to the future with a positive attitude,” he added.

Throughout the Forum’s two-week ninth session, which concluded today, indigenous and non-indigenous delegates alike discussed traditional practices for living well.  A unique feature was the increased participation of States.  A record 15 Governments had sent voluntary reports to the Forum describing the situations of indigenous peoples in their countries.  The Governments of Bolivia and Paraguay participated in a first-ever dialogue with Governments, reporting on the situation of the Guaraní, among others, in the Chaco region, while a representative of Brazil participated in an expert panel on forests.

Moreover, delegates had welcomed New Zealand’s decision to endorse the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, he said, noting also the United States’ decision to formally review its position on the landmark instrument, and Canada’s announcement to take steps to endorse it.  “The debate was very fruitful,” he added.

Held under the special theme of “Indigenous peoples:  development with culture and identity:  articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, the session featured a half-day discussion on North America, Mr. Mamani said.  A debate on the “Doctrine of Discovery”, used by colonial Powers to lay claim to newly discovered lands, revealed important evidence about its disastrous impact and the need to move towards reconciliation.

In the area of human rights, a perpetual concern for indigenous peoples, delegates stressed the Forum’s importance as a space for genuine discussion, he explained.  A dialogue with United Nations agencies, held over two days, included the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which led to a lively discussion about indigenous peoples’ right to access and benefit-sharing arising from genetic resources.

Adding to those comments, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Forum member from the Philippines, said delegates had expressed concern at the continued evictions of indigenous peoples from their lands to make room for biofuel plantations, national parks and extractive operations.  A huge threat came in the form of large-scale dams, which had caused massive displacements.

In light of that, the Forum recommended that the Millennium Development Goals review summit in September include a focus on indigenous peoples, particularly indigenous women, who were among the most marginalized, she said.  Disaggregated data was also important.  Unless ethnicity and gender were considered, it would be extremely difficult to determine the real situations of indigenous peoples, who remained “invisible” in national averages.

When the floor was opened to questions, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz, responding to a query on a hydroelectric project in Brazil, said the Forum avoided referring to specific countries, due to its mandate.  However, delegates had expressed their grave concern at the building of dams and encouraged States to implement recommendations in a World Commission on Dams report entitled Dams and Development:  A New Framework for Decision Making.

Answering a question about two indigenous rights defenders who had been murdered in Mexico, Mr. Mamani, who is also the Forum member from Bolivia, said the 16-member body had repeatedly expressed its concern at their situation and would relate the events to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people.

As to whether land ownership issues in Latin America were progressing, Mr. Mamani said the Forum had discussed extractive industries and the construction of hydroelectric projects, which were of great concern, as extractive companies competed with indigenous peoples for land and water.  Forum members had underscored the binding nature of the Declaration, particularly vis-à-vis the right to self-determination.  Respect for international law and national implementation of that law would help stop such situations of injustice.

To a question on whether there would ever be real respect for indigenous rights, Mr. Mamani said:  “We are peoples and nations, as all other peoples and nations”. Indigenous peoples had existed prior to French, British or Portuguese conquest.  In the 1960s, they had been completely ignored ‑‑ nonexistent in national statistics.  However, Bolivian President Evo Morales’ election was a huge event.  Such progress had been impressive.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record