Geneva, 18 July 2005
By UNPO Secretariat Team

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples, Government observers, UN specialized agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations are meeting in Geneva this week for the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) to be held from 18-22 July.

The WGIP gives representatives from Indigenous Peoples a chance to address their concerns on Human Rights violations and the denial of their fundamental freedoms. This year’s principal theme is: “Indigenous Peoples and the International and Domestic Protection of Traditional Knowledge”.

Besides the central theme, participants will focus on Indigenous Peoples and conflict prevention and resolution. Another major agenda point will be the legal commentary on the concept of free, prior an informed consent as well as a review of the draft principles and guidelines on the protection of the heritage of Indigenous Peoples.

Alongside a discussion on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, delegates will address other matters like cooperation with other United Nations bodies, state of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations and the human rights situation of Indigenous Peoples in states and territories threatened with extinction for environmental reasons. At the end of the Working Group, a report will be submitted for adoption by the WGIP experts.

Of all the participants in the WGIP, the indigenous representatives are the most easily recognizable - many wore traditional clothing, making the conference room a unique blend of colours and cultures.

Mr. Dzidek Kedzia, chief of the research and right to development branch, introduced this year’s theme, stating that although the right to one’s own cultural knowledge is protected by human rights standards, there remain gaps that must be filled. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) invited the Working Group in March to focus on standard setting for the second decade. He likened the Working Group to a “think tank”, and committed the CHR to working closely with the WG. Furthermore, he affirmed the Commission’s dedication to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Mme. Françoise Hampson, an independent WGIP expert nominated Mr. Miguel Alfonso Martinez for the position of chairperson. With some reluctance, he was honoured to accept the position after Mr. Gáspár Biró seconded this nomination. He elaborated: “Three years ago, I said three years was the maximum I would spend in this post. I spent the last three years as chair. There are further reasons why I am chairing. I really do trust we will find someone else to do this job in the Working Group. When I wanted to chair, it became part of my being. Over the year I will try to ensure we achieve maximum success in the Working Group”.

These proceedings were followed by the traditional Thanksgiving Prayer presented by Ms. Sally Higgins. This impressive moment highlighted the collective spirit of all Indigenous Peoples and other participants of the WGIP.

In an agenda point devoted to general debate, all participants were invited to update the working group on the current human rights situation affecting their communities. Indigenous representatives spoke about issues affecting their local communities, from environmental degradation to the denial of the fundamental freedoms of their peoples.

Mapuche International Link described the many human rights violations taking place in Chile against the Mapuche People. In their statement, they asked how a government could oversee the continuing theft of ancestral lands by ruthless forestry companies, big landowners and other interested parties. They appealed to the International Community to put pressure the Government of Chile to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen and other international organizations.

Dr. Vang Pobzeb from the Lao Human Rights Council reported that at the time of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, more than 14.000 Hmong people in the Jungle of Laos surrendered to the Communist Lao Government of LPDR. The Lao government arrested, imprisoned and killed many of these men. After this, many Hmong people fled to Thailand where they were unable to meet their basic human needs. The Lao Human Rights Council calls upon the United Nations to grant these Hmong people the refugee status so they can be given food, a shelter, medicine and other basic amenities.

During the last 5 years of civil war on the Moluccas, the cry for international intervention from to United Nations has been ignored. Neither the UN nor the European Union has taken any initiative to propose a resolution for intervention in the Moluccas, as stated by the Mena Muria Foundation. Dr. Randolf Delano Muller expressed the sentiments of many indigenous representatives when he said: “The people of non self governing territories should be assisted in their selection of what is best for their own future… Fighting for what is yours is not a revolution, Fighting for what is yours is Justice!”

After several other presentations, Mr. Alfonso Martinez declared an end to the day’s proceedings and the room was soon clear of the conference participants. Outside the main hall, conversations continued in a variety of languages as delegates discussed the day’s developments.