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PROMOTING THE INDIGENOUS AGENDA
In order to highlight the rights of the indigenous peoples of the
Americas, the
Department
of International Law has been able to::
● Sensitize public officials, members of OAS permanent missions, and society
in general by means of seminars, round tables, and workshops;
● Include indigenous issues in the Courses and Workshops on International
Law, which bring together teachers and experts from prestigious
universities from cross the Americas; and
● Disseminate information through publications and its web site.
The Program also aims to promote topics dealing with indigenous children
and youths, with an emphasis on education.
TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT
The Program awards scholarships to indigenous peoples’ representatives,
government officials, and staff of Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
involved in this field. Scholarships are offered to nationals of Central
American and South American Member states. There are courses on “Good
Governance,” seminars on “The Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the
Inter-American System,” and workshops on the “Political Participation of
Indigenous Women” and the “Logical Framework Approach to Project
Preparation”. Nearly 100 people received training in 2009 and the goal
is to double that number by 2013.
The Department of International Law also provides technical assistance
and support to former scholarship recipients once the classes have
concluded. Successful empowerment is achieved when training is
replicated within their communities. These training activities are
organized by the former scholarship recipients, using their own
resources, making them multiplicators-of-knowledge. Former scholarship
recipients have prepared development projects presented to cooperation
agencies and, in some cases, obtained funding through the knowledge
gained from the OAS workshops.
ATTENTION TO SPECIFIC NEEDS
The OAS Department of International Law has identified specific legal
assistance needs for members of indigenous communities, including, among
others, persons deprived of their liberty and internally displaced and
migrant indigenous people.
MAINSTREAMING THE INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE
The Department is currently conducting a study of ways to mainstream the
indigenous perspective in OAS programs, projects, and activities.
PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN THE OAS
Indigenous representatives have the opportunity to learn about the
structure and participatory mechanisms of the OAS and the inter-American
system, through seminars, publications, and virtual forums. Examples
include the possibility of registering indigenous organizations in the
OAS’ civil society activities; involvement in the Summits of the
Americas process; invitations to the negotiation meetings on the Draft
Inter-American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.