Indigenous International Rights: Progressing Indigenous Rights at the International Level

This section lists important UN reports, studies and conferences on the rights of Indigenous peoples under topics of interest.

For an overview of recent international developments in Indigenous human rights see:

• • Quarterly updates of the Indigenous People's Centre for Documentation, research and information (doCip),
  • Publications of the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) 

United Nations Reports, Studies and Conferences by topic

• • Children
  • Data collection and Disaggregation for Indigenous peoples
  • Development
  • Right to Development
  • Education
  • Free Prior and Informed Consent
  • Health
  • Heritage
  • Housing
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Justice
  • Land and Natural Resources
  • Minorities
  • Racism
  • The World Conference Against Racism, August -  September 2001
  • Self Determination
  • Treaties, Agreements and Relationships between Indigenous peoples and States
  • Traditional Knowledge
  • Women
  • Other reports and conferences on Indigenous human rights

Children

• • Committee on the Rights of the Child. Recommendations: Day of General Discussion, 3 October 2003
  • UNPFII. Second Session. Special Theme: Indigenous Children and Youth. 11 -23 May 2003

Data collection and Disaggregation for Indigenous peoples

• • UNPFII Workshop. Indigenous Peoples and Indicators of Well-Being. March 2006.
  • UNPFII Workshop. Data Collection and Disaggregation for Indigenous Peoples. May 2004

Development

Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals :

• • UNPFII. Fifth session Special Theme: The Millennium Development Goals and Indigenous Peoples: Re-defining the Millennium Development Goals. May 2006 
  • UNPFII Workshop. The Millennium Development Goals, Indigenous Participation and Good Governance, January 2006
  • UNPFII. Fourth Session. Special Theme: Millennium Development Goals and Indigenous Peoples with a focus on Goal 1 to Eradicate Poverty and Extreme Hunger, and Goal 2 to achieve universal primary education. May 2005
  • UNPFII. High- level panel ‘Integrating Indigenous Perspectives on Development to Reach the Millennium Development Goals’ held within the framework of the 2005 Governing Council Meeting of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Presentations, February 2005  
  • Inter - Agency Support Group, Statement on Indigenous Issues regarding Indigenous Peoples and the Millennium Development Goals, Sep- Oct 2004
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations of Australia Human Rights Network. Assessment of the Millennium Development Goals and the situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia in ‘Report of Consultations on the 5th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues’: April 2006

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Right to Development

• • The Human Development Report 2004: "Cultural Liberty in Today's Diverse World' devotes attention to the situation of Indigenouspeoples
  • Working Group on Indigenous Populations. 19th session report ‘Indigenous Peoples and Their Right to Development, Including Their Right to Participate in Development Affecting Them: Note’, June 2001

Education

• • Special Rapporteur. Third Thematic Report. Indigenous Peoples and Education Systems: Human Rights Challenges, January 2005
  • Special Rapporteur. Seminar on Indigenous Peoples and Education. Special Rapporteur Conclusions and Recommendations, December 2004

Free Prior and Informed Consent

• • WGIP. Standard Setting. Future Priorities for standard setting activities. Review of the draft principles and guidelines on the heritage of Indigenous peoples. June 2006
  • UNPFII Workshop. Partnerships between Indigenous Peoples Governments and Civil Society held at the International Conference on Engaging Communities, August 2005
  • WGIP: Standard Setting. A Legal Commentary on the Concept of Free, Prior and Informed Consent. July 2005
  • UNPFII Workshop. Free Prior and Informed Consent and Indigenous Peoples, January 2005
  • The Akwé: Kon Voluntary Guidelines for the Conduct of Cultural, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments Regarding Developments Likely to Impact on Scared Sites , Lands and Waters Traditionally Occupied or Used by Indigenous and Local Communities, 2004.
  • The ILO Convention (No.169) Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries makes particular reference to the principle of free, prior and informed consent (see Articles 6 and 7 for example).
  • The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the Human Rights Council also refers to the principle of free, prior and informed consent (see Articles 11, 21 and 31 for example).

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Health

The World Health Organisation (WHO) addresses the health of Indigenouspeoples through the Human Rights Team in the Department of Ethics, Trade, Human Rights and Health Law.

• • WHO worksheet outlining activities (2007- 08) and publications on the health of Indigenouspeoples
  • WHO and the Health and Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples webpage
  • WHO information on Health and the Millennium Development Goals
  • The Geneva Declaration on the Health and Survival of Indigenous Peoples was issued after an international consultation on the health of Indigenous peoples organised by the World Health Organisation, Geneva, November 1999.

Heritage

• • WGIP. Standard Setting. Future Priorities for standard setting activities. Review of the draft principles and guidelines on the heritage of Indigenous peoples. June 2006
  • WGIP: Draft principles and guidelines for the protection of the heritage of Indigenous peoples, June 2005
  • Erica – Irene Daes (Special Rapporteur) Workshop. Indigenous heritage.  Draft principles and guidelines for the protection of the heritage of Indigenous people, March 2000

Housing

• • UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Preliminary observations: Australia visit. August 2006

Indigenous peoples

• • Jose Martinez Cobo, Final Report ‘Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations’ Volume V, Conclusions, Proposals and Recommendations 1987
  • Erika –Irene Daes. Working paper on the concept of ‘Indigenous people’, June 1996

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Justice

• • Special Rapporteur. Seminar on Indigenous Peoples and the Administration of Justice, January 2004 
  • Special Rapporteur. Second Thematic Report. Administration of Justice, Indigenous People and Human Rights, January 2004

Land and Natural Resources

• • WGIP. 24th session. Main theme: “Utilization of Indigenous peoples' lands by non-Indigenous authorities, groups or individuals for military purposes”.  July -  Aug 2006
  • OHCHR, Final report: Expert seminar on Indigenous people’s permanent sovereignty over natural resources and their relationship to land, May 2006
  • Special Rapporteur. First Thematic Report. The Impact of Large-scale or Major Development Projects on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Communities, January 2003 
  • Special Rapporteur, Erica – Irene Daes. Final working paper: Indigenous peoples and their relationship to land, June 2001

Minorities

• • Working Group on Minorities. Pamphlet on the United Nations Guide For Minorities, Annex ‘“Minorities And The United Nations: Human Rights Treaty Bodies And Individual Complaint Mechanisms” June 2006
  • Erika- Irene Daes and Asbjorn Eide. Working Paper. The relationship and distinction between the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those of Indigenous peoples, July 2000
  • UN Human Rights Committee. Interpretation of Article 27, April 1994 (General comment 23)

Racism

• • UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, Final report: Australia visit, May 2001
  • Jose Martinez Cobo, Final Report ‘Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against IndigenousPopulations’ Volume V, Conclusions, Proposals and Recommendations 1987

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The World Conference Against Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance was held in Durban South Africa from 30 August - 7 September 2001.

• • Declaration and Programme of Action of the NGO World Conference, September 2001
  • Information on the Australian Human Rights Commission and the World Conference, 2001
  • HREOC. Report of consultations for the World Conference, ‘I want respect and equality’, 2002
  • Regional Meeting of Indigenous Peoples on the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Sydney, Australia. Report, February 2001
  • Social Justice Commissioner. Opening Address to the Regional Meeting for the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, February 2001

Self Determination

• • Social Justice Commissioner. Speech. Indigenous peoples and the Right to Self Determination, November 2004
  • Social Justice Commissioner. Submission on the right to self-determination to the Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, October 2002
  • Social Justice Commissioner. Discussion on the applicability of the right to self-determination to Indigenous peoples, Chapter 2 Social Justice Report 2002
  • Erica – Irene Daes. Explanation of the provisions of the draft Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People on self-determination, July 1993

Treaties, Agreements and Relationships between Indigenous peoples and States

• • Special Rapporteur. Fourth Thematic Report. Constitutional reforms, legislation and implementation of laws regarding the rights of Indigenous people, February 2006 
  • UNPFII Workshop. Partnerships between Indigenous Peoples Governments and Civil Society held at the International Conference on Engaging Communities, August 2005
  • Special Rapporteur. Seminar on Constitutional Reforms, Legislation and Implementation of Laws regarding the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Special Rapporteur, July 2005
  • WGIP. 22nd session. Main theme: "Indigenous peoples and conflict resolution". July 2004
  • OHCHR. Conclusions and recommendations. Seminar on treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and Indigenous populations, December 2003

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Traditional Knowledge

• • UNPFII Workshop. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, September 2005
  • WGIP. 23rd session. Main theme: "Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge." July 2005
  • World Intellectual Property Organisation. Traditional Knowledge Group: Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Folklore

Women

• • UNPFII. Third Session. Special Theme: Indigenous women. 10 to 21 May 2004

Other reports and conferences on Indigenous human rights

• • UNPFII Workshop. Indigenous Peoples and Migration, 6- 7 April 2006
  • WGIP: Workshop. Indigenous media: Promoting the rights and cultures of Indigenous peoples through the media, December 2000
  • WGIP: Standard Setting. Evolution Of Standards Concerning The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples, Human genome diversity research and Indigenous peoples, 4 June 1998

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