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Addressee: OHCHR, UNDP
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The Permanent Forum recommends that OHCHR and UNDP continue their work in support of national human rights institutions and focus on capacity development support to promote and protect indigenous peoples’ rights.
Responses
OHCHR reported that it has stepped up its engagement with national institutions on indigenous issues. It started with a global consultation meeting in Bangkok in 2009, followed by a sub-regional meeting in 2010 in New Zealand/Aotearoa, co-organized with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. Another consultation was held in Geneva on 11 July 2011 titled “Toward an Operational Guide for National Human Rights Institutions: Possible good practices in addressing the rights of Indigenous Peoples”. At the meeting, representatives of NHRIs from Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, the Russian Federation, Peru, El Salvador and Panama shared examples of advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and discussed the possible content of the operational guide, as well as ways to move the process forward. OHCHR further partnered with the ILO, UNDP, UNICEF and WHO to explore how NHRIs were advancing the rights of indigenous peoples in Latin America. It organised a meeting which brought together representatives of the Defensorias del Pueblo from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The meeting took place in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia from 24 to 28 October 2011 and discussed a range of issues, including health, conflict prevention, indigenous children, and the rights of indigenous peoples under the ILO Convention No. 169 and the UN Declaration. In addition, participants shared real life experiences of the rights contained in ILO 169 and the UN Declaration, as well as practical examples of work that their institutions have undertaken to promote education and awareness raising; complaints handling; mediation and conflict resolution; public inquiries on specific rights; legislative inquiries and law reforms; engagement with international or regional mechanisms; and work in partnerships with indigenous peoples. OHCHR also shared an advance draft of the Guide currently developed in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Australian Human Rights Commission. Many useful inputs and comments were received during the meeting and will be reflected in the final version of the Guide.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 10 (2011)
Area of Work
