As representatives of United Nations agencies and funds shed light today on their respective strategies to address indigenous peoples’ concerns, members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and indigenous peoples’ organizations worldwide implored the United Nations to change its working methods so that indigenous peoples were the driving force behind –- and not merely the object of ‑- those efforts.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues continued its discussion of human rights today amid calls for Governments tostrictly carry out their obligations under international human rights accords, notably in the Amazon where protests by native inhabitants recently erupted after moves to open the region to oil and mining by foreign companies without their consultation.

As the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues continued its eighth annual session this afternoon, the United NationsSpecial Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, shed light on his recent efforts to redress their grievances over the deeply-rooted disregard for their values and land rights by Governments and corporations.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples continued its eighth annual session today, with indigenous speakers decrying Governments’ near-total disregard for their rights in the development of roads, waterways and extractive projects; negotiation of free trade agreements; and drafting of national legislation that impacted their lives.

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this morning opened its eighth annual session aimed at finding ways to further implement the landmark 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which gained momentum last month when the Australian Government officially endorsed the accord after previously voting against it.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will meet at Headquarters from 18 to 29 May to discuss ways to further implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which gained momentum last month, when Australia officially endorsed it after previously having voted against it.

3 April 2009

General AssemblyHR/CT/712

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Human Rights Committee

Ninety-fifth Session

2626^th Meeting (AM)

COMMITTEE MONITORING COMPLIANCE WITH CIVIL, POLITICAL RIGHTS COVENANT

CONCLUDES THREE-WEEK NEW YORK SESSION

 

Considered Rwanda, Australia, Sweden Reports; 30 Individual Communications

2 April 2009

General AssemblyHR/CT/711

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Human Rights Committee

Ninety-fifth Session

2625^th Meeting* (PM)

1 April 2009

General AssemblyHR/CT/710

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Human Rights Committee

Ninety-fifth Session

2622^nd & 2623^rd Meetings (AM & PM)

31 March 2009

General AssemblyHR/CT/709

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Human Rights Committee

Ninety-fifth Session

2621^st Meeting* (PM)

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING

SUBMISSIONS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATIONS UNDER OPTIONAL PROTOCOL

Proposal Submitted on Undue Delay in Submitting Communications