Call to Action: Demand a strong American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Act now! Send a letter to OAS member countries urging them to support a strong American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Dear Friends,

In the United States, 1 in 3 Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetime. In Colombia, more than 1,244 indigenous people have been assassinated in the past five years. This persecution is not unique to particular countries. It is part of an alarming trend of human rights violations against indigenous peoples in North, Central, and South America. Indigenous rights to life, land, equality, natural resources, self-determination, and religious freedom are under attack. The Organization of American States, a regional body made up of the 35 countries of the Americas, is currently negotiating an American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Countries of the Americas must commit to the recognition and implementation of indigenous rights by adopting the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We Need a Strong American Declaration

:: To recognize indigenous human rights, including the right of self-determination, treaty
:: rights, rights to education, cultural and religious rights, rights to lands and resources,
:: and more.

:: To help stop and guard against human rights violations occurring in the Americas now.

:: To recognize and address the particular regional issues in the Americas.

The OAS and OAS member countries, especially the United States, Canada, and Colombia, must resume negotiations immediately and commit to the adoption of a strong American Declaration.

ACT NOW FOR A STRONG AMERICAN DECLARATION by sending letters to OAS member countries urging them to support a strong American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. [click here to send letter]

For more information regarding the American Declaration and the OAS negotiations visit Indian Law Center’s website http://www.indianlaw.org/.