Dr. Luiz Paulo Barreto, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Justice

Ambassador Antonio Patriota, Under-secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ambassador Juan León Alvarado, Chair of the Working Group to prepare the Draft
American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Dr. Azelene Inácio Kaingáng, Representative of the Caucus of Indigenous Peoples
Representative of the Diplomatic Corps
Representatives and Government Experts of Member States
Representatives of the Indigenous Organizations and Peoples of the Americas
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Bom Dia,

Just five months ago, I had the opportunity to address you in Antigua, Guatemala on the occasion of the Sixth Meeting of Negotiations towards the Draft American Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the intervening months, the Working Group, so ably chaired by Ambassador Juan León has accomplished much and I am honored to be with you again today as you move forward with these important negotiations to prepare a draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In Guatemala, I made it clear that the work of this Group is very important to our efforts at the OAS to promote and protect the human rights of all citizens of the Americas. Today, I wish to reiterate that point and to signal the commitment of the OAS and its leadership, to recognize, promote, protect and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Allow me to thank the Government of Brazil for their leadership in hosting and facilitating this meeting – the second which has been hosted outside of OAS headquarters in Washington, DC. The willingness of Member States to host these meetings serves to elevate the level of discourse across the Hemisphere as well as within their own borders. The hosting of this meeting is therefore a powerful signal from the government of Brazil regarding the significance and importance it attaches to this issue and I thank the government for its leadership and vision.

I also want to thank the staff of the OAS, who through their continued and dedicated efforts, contribute to the progress made so fare,

Fundamentally, a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is about recognizing, respecting and safeguarding basic rights and freedoms.


Such a Declaration is, in my view, long overdue.

I believe that, as stated in Article 1 of the American Convention on Human Rights, it is incumbent upon governments and society at large to respect fundamental rights and freedoms regardless of “race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, or any other social condition.”

The OAS is adopting that same approach as we also work toward a future Inter-American Convention against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance. And Brazil’s leadership and efforts are once again recognized in this area.

Perhaps more than any other region, the Western Hemisphere of nations is blessed with amazing diversity that showcases its multicultural, multilingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious makeup. The ability to understand and embrace differences should be a source of strength and opportunity, not an argument for division and neglect. Yet, all too often, minority ethnic groups and indigenous communities, among others, are marginalized to the point of invisibility and denied access to opportunity. In the interest of political stability, democratic governance and equity for all this situation needs to be addressed

Racism, discrimination and intolerance are issues of real concern for all OAS Member States. Injurious bias reveals itself in both subtle and overt ways. It affects access to education, health care, employment, equal wages, and housing. Studies have shown that it even affects the delivery of justice. Groups that have traditionally been targets of discrimination including indigenous peoples, Afro communities, and women, account for a disproportionate percentage of the 220 million individuals living in abject poverty in this hemisphere.

In 2005, the World Bank released a study which found that indigenous peoples represent 10 percent of the region’s population and the largest disadvantaged group in Latin America. The study found that the incidence of poverty in Latin America “is particularly severe and deep among the indigenous population.” For example, in Bolivia and Guatemala, more than half of the total population is poor, but almost three-quarters of the indigenous population are poor. Poverty among indigenous people in Ecuador is about 87 percent. In Mexico, the incidence of extreme poverty in 2002 was 4.5 times higher in predominantly indigenous than in non-indigenous municipalities.

There can be no question that indigenous peoples have been excluded for too long from the political and economic life of many our societies. That historical wrong is beginning to change as traditionally marginalized groups are entering the political process, making their voices heard and demanding change. These demands for socio-economic and political inclusion are being expressed in a variety of ways throughout the Americas – at the polls, through political mobilization, in the media and in street protests.

The citizens of the Americas are demanding that governments deliver on the promise and the premise of democracy.

At the very root of our democracies must be a clearly expressed commitment to greater inclusion of all sectors of society. This is essential if our democracies are to remain strong. And this is critical if our economies are going to be able to spur comprehensive and sustainable development that reaches the many and not just the few.

It is clear that our countries cannot attain desired levels of development, stability and democracy when a significant percentage of the population is deprived of real opportunities that will enable them to reach their full potential.

The OAS continues to stress the vital importance of ensuring the participation of indigenous people at all levels of public participation including at the regional, sub-regional, national, sectoral and institutional levels.

Many of our member states have already improved the policy frameworks that address issues affecting indigenous peoples. This shift reflects not only governments recognition of the need for policy changes, but also the success of the work being done by indigenous peoples’ representatives themselves to publicize and raise the profiles of the fundamental issues affecting their lives and to participate actively in political and other civil society organizations.

However, while governments make policy, establish rules and regulations, and create enabling environments that support change, ultimately individuals and institutions must be willing to accept the responsibility to act and transform societies for the better.

For policies to work effectively, we must cultivate real partnerships between the public and private sectors, between government and civil society, and between communities of distinct ethnic, social or economic backgrounds. Diversity is one of the distinctive features and an area of strength and possibility for our Western Hemisphere community of nations. Only by bridging gaps and respecting fundamental rights and freedoms, can we fully move forward with an agenda that emphasizes democracy and human rights, development, peace and stability.

Finally, I know that this Group has been working with dedication and determination since its establishment in 1999, and in this final phase of negotiations since November 2003. The text of various articles has been negotiated. Specific language has been reworked and redrafted. Areas of concern have been debated and refined in the quest for points of consensus. Now, at this meeting in Brasilia, I would urge delegates to find solutions to outstanding issues and to move forward with precision toward the final draft declaration.

I wish you success and fruitful discussions, and, like many, I am looking forward to more progress in the drafting of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

I thank you.