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MEETING MOVES DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FORWARD

Representatives of the Hemisphere’s indigenous peoples and Organization of American States (OAS) member state representatives concluded a four-day meeting in Washington, optimistic that the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples currently being drafted will be a boon to the inter-American human rights system. The delegates said the Declaration will also provide a framework for political dialogue and governance.

The OAS Working Group wrapped up its deliberations on Thursday, with delegates agreeing that substantive progress was made, including on the recognition of indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, with renewed vision.

Peru’s Ambassador to the OAS Eduardo Ferrero Costa, the Working Group’s Chairman, thanked the delegates representing the indigenous groups for their participation in what he described as a “frank, open, constructive and respectful dialogue” that produced specific proposals on how to approach issues around which there is consensus as well as areas of difference.

Ambassador Ferrero Costa announced that the Chair had prepared an informal document to take the negotiations to the next stage. “It does not commit anyone but takes into account the contributions made at various meetings,” said Ferrero Costa, agreeing that national consultations should be promoted—between governments and their respective indigenous peoples, concerning the future of the Draft Declaration.

OAS Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi, speaking at the closing session, applauded the spirit of dialogue that prevailed, and urged the representatives of the indigenous peoples and member state representatives to “work out more possible mutual strategies in this process that must be participatory.”

Einaudi called for new state policies to bring education, the public service and the administration of justice in tune with the reality facing indigenous peoples themselves. He also underscored the need to recognize that political democracy must reflect, or perhaps mirror directly, the social composition of our peoples and that the absence of multicultural and multi-ethnic elements adversely affects the countries’ political and legal systems.”

Osvaldo Kreimer, the Working Group’s Rapporteur, highlighted the achievements arising from the meeting and identified a series of issues on which there was consensus, including widespread acceptance of cultural diversity in the member countries as a basis of their identity and richness. He also touched on the concept of “indigenous habitat” for the survival of indigenous peoples as an expression of their culture and to foster sustainable environment and application of their jurisdiction and institutions.

Reference: E-048/03