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OAS Secretary General Optimistic about an American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

he Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching consensus in the elaboration of an American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is currently being negotiated.

In remarks made during the closing ceremony of the XIII Meeting of Negotiations in the quest for points of consensus on said Declaration, the head of the hemispheric organization asserted that "certainly we are facing a more promising situation than just a short time ago," while thanking all ambassadors and delegates who participated in the three-day event for their "commitment, dedication, and hard work towards achieving this goal."

"I believe we can now decisively move forward on the American Declaration," he continued, adding that "I salute and applaud the decision of the United States and Canada to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. While it is another sphere, it represents a significant step which allows us to hope that a firm consensus can also be reached in the sphere of the OAS, allowing these countries to join a majority in approving the Declaration."

"We have the strongest desire to continue to hold the necessary meetings towards reaching consensus," he concluded, calling for solidarity among Member States and Permanent Observers of the OAS to continue contributing funds to make possible this "essential discourse."

For his part, the Representative of Indigenous Peoples, George Norton, of Guyana, recognized the progress achieved at this meeting, while expressing concern about the possibility of essential rights of indigenous peoples, ones that have been recognized in the United Nations declaration and other international instruments, being left "in brackets."

"Although we have made much progress in this round of negotiations, there is still much work to be done," the delegate continued, expressing optimism about its final success. "It would be magnificent if the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples would be completed and announced at the Summit of the Americas in Colombia in 2012. It would truly be something for all of us to celebrate."

During the closing of the Working Group meeting, held from January 18 to 20, 2011, at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, the Chair of the Working Group and Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS, Guillermo Cochez, shared this same optimism, saying that "I believe we are fortunate to be able to end this year with the possibility that next year, in 2012, at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, we may present the Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples."

Finally, the Permanent Observer of Spain to the OAS, Ambassador Javier Sancho, highlighted the importance of this goal for his country, one of the principal donors and contributors to this dialogue. "Spain has a strategy dedicated exclusively to indigenous peoples, with a fundamental objective: to contribute to the recognition and the effective exercise of the rights of indigenous peoples, and the articulation of their own processes of social, economic, political and cultural development."

Reference: E-510/11