Category Archives: Notes

From 24-27 January 2010, in Arusha, Tanzania, the Support Project for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples participated in the final regional consultation carried out by the United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) with indigenous peoples and other forest dependent communities. This workshop followed previous consultations in the… Read More »

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises should advance compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Special Rapportuer stressed at a meeting with a working group of state delegates to the Organziation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris on 25 January, 2011. The working group is currently developing… Read More »

On 13 January 2011 the Special Rapporteur made public and presented his report via videoconference at a gathering of Sami leaders and observers at the University of Tromso, Norway. In his report, the Special Rapporteur notes that overall, Norway, Sweden, and Finland each place a high level of attention to indigenous issues. However, more remains to… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur communicated his concern to the Government of Chile for the violent evictions, and the threat of possible future evictions, of members of the Rapa Nui people, who since July 2010 have peacefully occupied buildings and other places in Easter Island, Chile, to demand recognition of their rights to ancestral lands. The Special… Read More »

Professor Anaya notes that the passage of a law on indigenous peoples by the National Assembly of the Republic of Congo on 30 December 2010, following approval by the Senate, marks a significant step in recognizing and protecting the rights of marginalized indigenous peoples of the country, including groups such as the Baaka, Mbendjele, Mikaya,… Read More »

Upon conclusion of his visit to the Republic of Congo, the Special Rapporteur commended the Government for the significant steps it is taking to recognize and protect the rights of marginalized indigenous peoples of the country. Significant challenges remain, however to advance and implement these initiatives so that they can result in real improvement in… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur is carrying out a visit the Republic of Congo to monitor the situation of those indigenous people who are not part of the majority or dominant ethnic groups of the Republic of Congo, which make up about 10 percent of the total population of the Republic of Congo and live mainly in… Read More »

On 18 October 2010, the Special Rapporteur presented his second annual report to the United Nations General Assembly in New York during its 65th session. See his statement to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee) of the General Assembly and UN Press Release, which includes a summary of the discussion about the… Read More »

On 1 October 2010, the Government of Chile arrived at an agreement with Mapuche prisoners who had been in a hunger strike for 82 days in the Concepción, Temuco, Lebu and Valdivia jails. See the agreement here [Spanish only]. In the document, the Government agreed to desist from pursing charges of terrorism against Mapuche protestors… Read More »

On 20 September 2010, the Special Rapporteur presented his annual report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. See his statement to the Council and the webcast of the presentation of his report and the subsequent interactive dialogue. The Special Rapporteur dedicated his annual report to the thematic issue of the responsibilities of corporations to… Read More »

In his report, the Special Rapporteur notes that the Constitution "represents a significant step in the recognition of the human rights of the country’s indigenous peoples." He observes, nevertheless, that situations outlined in the report "demonstrate the shortcomings that still exist in the effective implementation of national and international standards protecting the human rights of… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples, James Anaya, has released his report on his communications with governments concerning cases of alleged violations of the human rights of indigenous peoples. The report includes his examination of 34 cases in 22 countries between June 2009 and July 2010. In several of the cases the Special Rapporteur presents… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur makes public his report on the situation of indigenous peoples in the Russian Federation, which follows a visit to the country from 4 to 16 October 2009. In the report, the Special Rapporteur outlines the initiatives undertaken by the federal and some regional governments to improve the living conditions of indigenous peoples… Read More »

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2010), the Special Rapporteur acknowledged that extraordinary wealth of knowledge, culture, and spirituality that indigenous peoples have maintained for the common benefit of humankind. However, he stressed that "historical patterns of oppression continue to manifest themselves in ongoing barriers to the full enjoyment of… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur carried out a visit to New Zealand from 19-23 July 2010 to assess the situation of the Maori people, in follow up to the 2005 visit by his predecessor, Rodolfo Stavenhagen. The Special Rapporteur notes that, while some advancements have been made since his predecessor’s visit, including proposed repeals to the Foreshore… Read More »

In a public statement, the Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, outlined principles relating to the duty of states to consult with indigenous peoples, in light of the letter signed by the President of Peru, Alan Garcia, on 21 June 2010. This letter by the President sets out the observations of the Executive on the consultation law… Read More »

During the session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which took place from 12-16 July 2010, the Special Rapporteur offered observations on the right of indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making, which is the focus of a study currently being developed by the Expert Mechanism.See the statement of the Special Rapporteur… Read More »

Following his visit to Guatemala between 14 and 18 June 2010, Special Rapporteur James Anaya identified a high level of social conflict and instability in relation to natural resource extraction activities being carried out in indigenous lands by private companies, in a large part due to a lack of effective consultation with the indigenous communities… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur James Anaya expressed deep concern at the polarized atmosphere that has emerged from recent media comments and statements by government officials in Ecuador with regards to a case that took place on May 9, 2010 at the Cocha community, Cotopaxi province. “It is counterproductive for the construction of an intercultural and multinational… Read More »

UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Rapporteur on indigenous peoples, Dinah Shelton, led a training seminar for indigenous leaders and lawyers from the United States and Canada, in Washington, D.C. on June 3 and 4 at the offices of the Organization of American States. The seminar was aimed at… Read More »

“If private companies engage in development activities on indigenous territories, they must be aware of and respect international human rights standards concerning indigenous peoples and deal with indigenous peoples as equal partners in the development projects,” Special Rapporteur James Anaya told representatives of oil and gas companies at a seminar in Cartagena, Colombia. The seminar,… Read More »

UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya joined a group of UN experts in condemning the recent killing of human rights defender Ms. Beatriz Alberta (Bety) Cariño Trujillo and the international observer Mr. Tyri Antero Jaakkola in Oaxaca, Mexico. "The increase of armed clashes and violence in the community of San Juan Copala over the past few… Read More »

The Special Rapporteur underscores that the passage by the Congress of Peru of the Law on the Rights to Prior Consultation with Indigenous Peoples, recognized in Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organisation “represents a significant advancement in national legislation concerning the rights of indigenous peoples, which could establish an important precedent as a… Read More »

A group of UN human rights experts expressed serious concern over a series of laws recently enacted by the state of Arizona, United States of America, that may have significant discriminatory effects on ethnic minorities and groups, especially those of Mexican, Latin American, or indigenous origin. One of the laws requires police, after a lawful… Read More »

Development projects need to incorporate into their objectives the right of indigenous people to self-determination, said Special Rapporteur James Anaya in his address to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues during its ninth session. Improving the educational opportunities for indigenous people and strengthening their institutions and self-government structures are essential for enabling indigenous… Read More »

Nordic governments and Sami organizations have achieved notable progress in advancing the human rights of the indigenous people in the Sapmi region, said Special Rapporteur James Anaya after a three day conference in Rovaniemi, Finland, where he met with representatives of Sami Parliaments, NGOs, and the governments of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Many challenges remain,… Read More »

The Government of Australia is to be commended for various programs aimed at reducing the disadvantaged conditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; however, in a number of respects these programs should be better devised to advance the cultural integrity and self-determination of these peoples, says Special Rapporteur James Anaya in a report following… Read More »

Despite government programs aimed at improving the economic conditions of the Basarwa (San) and other indigenous peoples in Botswana, these peoples continue to suffer disadvantage, concludes a report by Special Rapportuer James Anaya. Government programs in Botswana should be better adapted to advance the rights of disadvantaged indigenous peoples in accordance with contemporary international standards,… Read More »

The State of Colombia has devoted significant attention to indigenous issues and to the development of plans and proposals to address the recommendations of the former Special Rapporteur, but indigenous peoples in the country continue to face serious problems which have not been addressed with the urgency that the gravity of the situation merits, says… Read More »

Following up to an earlier visit to the country, Special Rapporteur James Anaya visited Ecuador from 7 to 9 December 2009 to participate in an initiative to develop legislation to recognize indigenous justice systems and to examine the implementation of constitutional protections of indigenous rights. See Press Release.