Author Archives: UNSRIP

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on the Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, to present expert testimony on the principles of consultation and consent, during hearings before the Inter-American Court in the case of the Kichwa indigenous peoples of Sarayaku vs. Ecuador on 7 July. The Special Rapporteur presented a short statement on the issue,… Read More »

On 6 July 2011, the Special Rapporteur issued a public statement in which he urged the Government of Peru and the indigenous leaders in the department of Puno to maintain a dialogue process in order to peacefully resolve conflicts related to mining and oil activities in the region following the recent violence that occurred in… Read More »

On June 16, 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in a videoconference with members of the Justice and Structure Commission of the Ecuadorean National Assembly where he presented his observations and recommendations concerning the bill on Coordination and Cooperation between Indigenous and National Justice Systems to the Commission members, other Assembly members, State officials and members… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur was among a number of experts and indigenous leaders who testified at a hearing of the United States Committee on Indian Affairs entitled, "Setting the Standard: The Domestic Policy Implication of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," held in Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2011. Information on the hearing… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur released his observations and recommendations on the measures needed to address the human rights concerns related to the proposed construction of the Diquís hydroelectric project in Costa Rica. If built according to current plans, the project will result in the flooding of ten percent of the traditional territory of the Teribe people,… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur, Professor James Anaya, will hold individual meetings with representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations during the fourth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in Geneva. The meetings will be held from 12 to 15 July 2011. Representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations may request a meeting with… Read More »

In his statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, during its annual meeting in New York, the Special Rapporteur provided an overview of his activities over the past year, including his work coordinating with other relevant human rights mechanisms and agencies and his work within his four principle work areas: thematic studies,… Read More »

The Special Rapportuer gave the keynote speech at the opening of the eighteenth session of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folkore, on May 9 in Geneva. In his speech he stressed that indigenous peoples’ demands to maintain control over their traditional knowledge and cultural… Read More »

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, undertook a visit to Costa Rica from 24-27 April 2011 to discuss the situation of indigenous peoples, in particular the Térraba people, affected by the Diquís hydroelectric project. At the end of his four-day visit, the Special Rapporteur noted that "All parties agree… Read More »

Delegates attending the biennial conference of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, the main representative body in Aboriginal affairs in the state of New South Wales, Australia, discussed the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a benchmark for major aspects of the organization´s work. The Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, gave the keynote… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur is currently carrying out a study on the rights of indigenous peoples in relation to natural resource extraction and development projects affecting them, in light of the high level of information he has received from indigenous peoples expressing concerns about this issue. An important component of this study will be the eventual… Read More »

“The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls for a new model of development, one that advances indigenous self-determination and offers real opportunities for partnership“, the Special Rapporteur told German government officials and others participating in an expert workshop in Berlin on March 29, 2011. The Special Rapporteur gave the keynote presentation at… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur, Professor James Anaya, will hold individual meetings with representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations during the tenth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in New York. The meetings will be held from 18 to 20 May 2011. Representatives of indigenous peoples and organizations may request a meeting with… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur has issued his report on the Situation of indigenous peoples of Guatemala in relation to natural resource extraction projects, and other projects, in their traditional territories. In an appendix to the report, he analyzes the human rights situation of communities affected by the Marlin mine in the municipalities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur’s report examines the situation of Māori people in New Zealand on the basis of information received during the Special Rapporteur’s visit to the country from 18-23 July 2010 and independent research. The visit was carried out in follow up to the 2005 visit of the previous Special Rapporteur, Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen. The… Read More »