Articles by Center Staff

By Jana L. Walker

Published by Equal Voice | November 18, 2014

Op-Ed by Armstrong A. Wiggins

Ending poverty globally can only be accomplished if you are in conversation with the people who live in poverty.

The World Bank held two critical meetings in Manila, Philippines, last month as part of its safeguard policies review process and its overall engagement with indigenous peoples. Center Senior Attorney Leonardo Crippa was invited to participate in the meetings as an expert on indigenous rights.

A delegation of leaders from Agua Caliente, a Maya Q’eqchi’ community in Guatemala, worked with the Center’s Washington, D.C. office in March to raise international awareness about a nickel mine that threatens to destroy their homelands.

Commentary by Robert T. Coulter on 2-year anniversary of U.S. endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Commentary by Karla E. General*

by Jana Walker - Despite some strides in addressing violence against Native women, there is no doubt United States law falls far short of even the minimum human rights standards set forth in the UN Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples.  Considering the United States’ trust responsibility to Indian nations, coupled with the standards in the Declaration, it is imperative that the U.S. act now to end the epidemic of violence against Native women.

The United States endorsement of the Declaration, on December 16 of last year, was cause for celebration.  With his announcement of support for the Declaration, President Obama emphasized that the endorsement wouldn’t be an empty gesture, but that the administration will take actions in line with the Declaration.

President Obama announced the U.S. support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the December 16, 2010 Tribal Nations Consultation in Washingtong, D.C.

The declaration lays out the fundamental rights of the world's indgenous peoples.

Representatives met with U.S. officials to discuss the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

For the first time, the United States will participate in a Universal Periodic Report before the UN Human Rights Council.  The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process to review the human rights records of all 192 UN member-states every four years.  Its ultimate goal is to improve human rights conditions in every country and it is designed to prompt, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights on the ground.

A  few Indian nations have achieved  great wealth as a result of gaming enterprises, creating the impression that casinos can be a magic bullet for fixing the economic and social ills of Native communities.  But despite the  success of a few Indian nations, Indians continue to rank at the bottom of every indicator of social and economic well-being in America. 

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private sector lending arm of the World Bank.  It has some of the greatest impacts on indigenous communities around the world because it funds numerous multi-national companies and private actors.  The IFC is reviewing its processes in regards to Sustainability Framework, including the Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability, Performance Standards, and the Policy of Disclosure of Information.

Juanita Cabrera-Lopez, Indian Law Resource Center Program Assistant in our Washington, D.C. office, reflects on the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords in Guatemala. Juanita is Maya Mam and was born in Guatemala.

A year ago, the international community at last officially recognized that indigenous peoples have a permanent right to exist as peoples, nations, cultures and societies when the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Sept.13, 2007.