UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
Over 80 U.S. Indian nations and organizations banded together to call for strong, action-oriented outcomes from the 2014 UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. (More...) (Declaración En Español) UN photo
Planning is already underway for the 2014 conference; now is the best time for Indian and Alaska Native Nations to get involved. (More) UN photo by Eskinder Debebe.
The United Nations will delay any substantive action on their work to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions at the UN. After years of discussions among indigenous peoples and member states, and several weeks of states-only negotiations this summer, member states were not able to reach consensus.
In a season of reckless threats and racist and misogynistic rhetoric, of xenophobia and border walls, indigenous peoples’ rights are at risk, whether intended targets or not. Right now, the Senate is considering a budget that calls for $1.6 billion for "high-priority tactical infrastructure and border security technology." This border wall that is envisioned by President Trump and U.S. lawmakers would cut across at least half a dozen Native American lands including Yuma, Apache, Yaqui, Pima, Kickapoo and Tohono O’odham.
Karla General, Indian Law Resource Center
Karla General, Indian Law Resource Center - Participation Modalities
Chris Foley, Indian Law Resource Center - Selection Criteria
Karla General, Indian Law Resource Center - Selection Body
(New York City, NY) — Indigenous leaders from across the United States and the world gathered in New York December 14-15, 2016, to participate in a consultation with the United Nations General Assembly on how to strengthen the participation of indigenous governments at the United Nations.
Center staff and board members are participating in information consultations of the current 71st session of the UN General Assembly on “Ways to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them.”
Tribal leaders from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and other Minnesota Indian Affairs Council representatives met with Indian Law Resource Center lawyers August 4, 2016, for a high-level workshop about how to engage in the United Nations system to protect tribal lands, sovereignty, and cultures.
July 11, 2016 | Geneva, Switzerland
Indian nations have historically been international actors and a part of the world community of sovereign nations, and this is shown by their treaties with the United States and other nations. Today, tribes are seeking to rejoin the international community in order to protect their lands, sovereignty, and cultures, and to benefit their communities, according to experts who spoke at the “Indian Nations in the United Nations” workshop hosted by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the Indian Law Resource Center on April 22, 2016 in Shawnee, Okla.
During President Barack Obama’s administration, we have seen two major developments in the advancement of indigenous rights. The first came in December, 2010, when the President announced the U.S. endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The second came in September, 2014, when the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples resulted in an outcome document in which the UN and member states made major commitments to implement the Declaration.
Dec. 16, 2015 marks the fifth anniversary of the U.S. announcement of its support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Since 2010, tribal leaders have been working vigorously to implement the UN Declaration at all levels which includes law and policy reform, changes in administrative practices, and long-term efforts to correct conditions that impede tribal development or that undermine tribes’ right to self-determination, cultural rights, and resource rights.
On September 22, 2015, the Human Rights Council held a half-day panel discussion on follow-up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.
Statement on Behalf of 96 Indigenous Nations and 20 Indian Organizations
(May 19, 2014)
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 13th Session
Agenda Item 6: Discussion on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples
The following proposals and memoranda were written in response to the need to identify concrete and action-oriented recommendations for the UN system and member states to adopt at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, in order to advance the objectives of the UN Declaration. Recognizing the historic but limited opportunity provided by the World Conference, the following proposals enjoyed broad support from tribal nations and indigenous communities, and remain critical pathways for follow-up to the World Conference, including:
Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly, October 15, 2012
[GA Resolution on the Modalities of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (A/RES/66/296)]
Resolution on Indigenous Peoples, December 2013
[GA Resolution on Rights of indigenous peoples (A/RES/68/149)]
The World Conference Outcome Document
Executive Director, Robert T. Coulter, addressed the 30th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today recommending the swift establishment of an implementing and monitoring body for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The statement makes a number of recommendations about this body, including specific proposals regarding its mandate, structure, and composition.
Center delivers joint statement with Amnesty International to UN Human Rights Council
The clock is ticking for UN leaders to develop a system-wide action plan to fulfill the mandates outlined in the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples outcome document.
Four years ago, on December 16, 2010, when the United States issued its statement of support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, it joined the world community in welcoming a new era of human rights.
Bringing the UN Declaration into effect.
The United Nations is prepared to adopt a formal document on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Sliver of a Full Moon— A play depicting indigenous women’s rights to be protected from violence and discrimination to be staged for world leaders.
Will Micklin, 1st Vice President of the Central Council of Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, represented the views of more than 150 indigenous nations and organizations at a United Nations meeting June 3, 2014, in New York. Micklin’s statement includes four recommendations for the action-oriented document that will result from the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Please listen or read and share.
