In Efforts to Achieve Millennium Goals, Indigenous People Must Not Be Forgotten, Discriminated Against or Marginalized, Forum Told
Indigenous people in many nations were still among the poorest and most marginalized, and their communities were often victimized by the effects of armed conflict, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette told the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as it opened its fourth session Monday morning.
She added that Member States had still not adopted the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, despite many years of negotiation and advocacy. Indigenous people and the international community must draw up a concrete plan of action leading to measurably improved standards of living and greater respect for indigenous rights.
Commending the Forum for this years focus on the Millennium Development Goals, she said it could contribute to the September review of those goals by assessing progress and obstacles in its own experience. Indigenous people must not be forgotten, discriminated against, or remain marginalized in efforts to achieve the Millennium Goals.
Bringing together some 1.500 indigenous leaders, activists and representatives, this years Forum is focusing on indigenous people and the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and achieving universal primary education.
Its ultimate aim is to draw up recommendations for the United Nations system, based on discussion in its mandated areas of economic and social development, environment, health, human rights, culture and education.
Addressing the Millennium Goal on poverty, Nana Effah-Apenteng (Ghana), Acting President of the General Assembly, stressed that the poverty faced by millions of indigenous people must be eradicated if the Millennium Goals were to be achieved.
Emphasizing the need to consider development models needed by indigenous people, she said too many indigenous groups faced threats to their land, natural resources, identities and even existence. Indigenous perspectives should be integrated into the Millennium Goals process, using local and national priorities for their implementation and evaluation.
During the afternoon panel discussion on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, several speakers highlighted the link between poverty and human rights, noting that those born into poverty remained where they were unless relevant rights were implemented.
Pointing to studies showing that extreme poverty impacted disproportionately on indigenous people, Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that such groups had a right to participate fully in development efforts. Poverty reduction programmes should not lead to injustices against indigenous peoples, such as depriving them of their lands or traditional means of existence.
Underscoring the importance of community involvement in reducing poverty, Jeffrey Sachs, United Nations Millennium Project Director and Adviser to the Secretary-General, stressed the importance of considering the specific conditions of each community.
Comparing the Forums goals to those of the Millennium Project, he said they both focused on local empowerment and active community participation in their own futures. Facing geographical challenges was a large part of that effort, as was raising the contributions of the wealthier countries to community development.
Other participants stressed the need for governments to fulfil their commitments to follow a rights-based approach to development and the reduction of poverty, emphasizing the benefits of adhering to fundamental human rights. They also pointed to the importance of indigenous participation in drawing up Millennium Goal poverty reduction strategy papers.
In addition, several focused on environmental issues and poverty, with one speaker noting that the impact of animal rights campaigns on renewable resource use had been harsh, often restricting the hunting of animals in no danger of extinction.
The Forum elected Victoria Tauli-Corpuz as its Chairperson; Hassan Id Balkassm, Otilia Lux de Coti, IDA NICOLAISEN (DENMARK) and Pavel Sulyandziga as its Vice-Chairpersons; and Michael Dodson as Rapporteur. It also adopted its agenda for the session.
The session was opened with a traditional procession of indigenous Peruvian children and youth, accompanied by harp and violin. Radford Quamahongwewa, War Chief and Spokesperson for the elders and leaders of the Hopi Indian Nation village of Shangopaui, then offered words of blessing in his native tongue.
Following the opening ceremony, Forum Chairperson Tauli-Corpuz invited participants to observe a minute of silence in memory of Njuma Ekundanayo, the late expert member from the DR Congo.
Other speakers during the afternoon panel discussion included Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Chairman of the UN Development Group (UNDG).
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