DOCUMENT: IPPM_4.TXT STATEMENT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' PREPARATORY MEETING Fourth Draft 24 July 1994 Thank you for this opportunity to address the agenda item of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Future Actions. This weekend, as we have done in the past, a large number of indigenous peoples met to discuss the matters to be raised during this session of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. This Indigenous Peoples' Preparatory Meeting, was held on July 23-24, 1994, at the World Council of Churches. On behalf of all those indigenous peoples who were present at our meeting, I have the following statement to make to the members of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples and to the representatives of state governments. We want to publicly state that there is strong unity and solidarity between us, as representatives of the world's indigenous peoples. This statement addresses our concerns about the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the future actions of the United Nations with regard to the Declaration. We would like to acknowledge that the Draft Declaration, in its present form, does include some positive principles that respond to the real conditions facing indigenous peoples. However, we continue to have strong concerns about other principles that do not fully accommodate the collective and individual rights and interests of indigenous peoples. As each of you know, the right of self-determination is of paramount importance to indigenous peoples. We are compelled to remind state governments and others that you cannot create a peoples. State governments did not create indigenous peoples and you did not create the sovereignty that we, as peoples, exercise as a birth right. Rather, through the development of modern international law, you have fabricated states and the notion of sovereignty that you now assert. In the context of the Draft Declaration, we remain concerned about our right to self-determination. The right of self-determination is regarded by indigenous peoples as a prerequisite to the exercise of all other rights. The Declaration must contain clear and explicit recognition of the fundamental right of self-determination, without discrimination or any other limitation. Many indigenous peoples present at the Preparatory Meeting expressed their concern that the provisions in Article 31 might be interpreted as a limitation to the full exercise of the right of self-determination. Indigenous peoples agreed to accept the inclusion of Article 31, provided that it is interpreted to address the right of autonomy and self- government as one of the specific forms of self- determination exercised by indigenous peoples, without foreclosing the alternative of acceding to independence. We respectfully request that this interpretation be transmitted to the Sub-Commission and the Commission on Human Rights, by direct reference to this statement, in the Working Group's report. We also remain concerned about our inherent rights to lands, territories and resources. These and other fundamental rights must not be diluted or undermined by state governments in the future. It must be recognized that the Draft Declaration now under consideration is the result of pressure placed upon the United Nations by indigenous peoples themselves. Since the days of the League of Nations, we, indigenous peoples, have taken the initiative to pursue international recognition of our fundamental human rights. To this day, there continues to be an unwavering determination to regain our place in the international community. In order to end the subjugation, domination and exploitation of our lands and peoples by state governments, we have been forced to travel to the United Nations to seek protection of our collective and individual human rights. It has not been the goodwill of governments that has opened the doors of the United Nations. The Working Group and states must not underestimate the difficulty that indigenous peoples have had in gaining recognition of and respect for our distinct rights, both internationally and nationally. Our difficulties are compounded by the fact that it is the member states of the United Nations who perpetuate oppression of indigenous peoples and who create the many chronic problems affecting indigenous communities. These same states continue to make attempts to dilute the emerging standards at the international level and are unwilling to engage in a substantive dialogue at home. Throughout our fight against a legacy of external control, indigenous peoples have recognized that this standard-setting process does not belong to us. We know and understand that the Draft Declaration is not our document. We have merely attempted to advance a fair and just conception of our fundamental human rights throughout this process. It is our understanding that this Draft Declaration is a document designed to end external control and interference. It is a state government document which sets standards to limit the actions of governments with regard to our rights. State government representatives must recognize that indigenous peoples are not going away, despite all of your efforts. We are determined to remain members of the family of nations. We would like to recognize those few states and the members of the Working Group who have supported our participation and efforts in this process. We now call upon you to support indigenous peoples' participation in the higher United Nations bodies. In particular, we request the inclusion of a recommendation in the report of the Working Group explicitly calling for a Resolution to be adopted by the Economic and Social Council, for the establishment of special measures so that indigenous peoples are able to participate fully and effectively (without regard to consultative status), in the consideration of the Draft Declaration by the Sub-Commission, Commission on Human Rights and other higher United Nations bodies. Furthermore, we request that a recommendation be contained in the Working Group report calling for a Resolution to be adopted by the Economic and Social Council, to suspend the rules that govern access to the floor for interventions to the Sub-Commission and the Commission on Human Rights and higher U.N. bodies by indigenous representatives. These specific requests are consistent with the fundamental right of indigenous peoples to participate fully in all levels of decision-making, in matters which affect our rights, lives and destinies, through representatives chosen by us. We would also like to commend all those indigenous peoples who have been involved in this human rights standard-setting process. We wish to express our appreciation for their time, effort and energy. We also extend our thanks to the Working Group members for their support. In conclusion, we remain committed to this process. We also remain committed to a process of our own, which includes our continued social, cultural, spiritual, economic, and political development. States have an important role to play and they have a real opportunity for accomplishment. We remain hopeful that the United Nations, the supposed pinnacle of human rights, will chose to do what is right, in the interest of peace and security, as well as in the interest of simple justice. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. 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