Questionnaire letter in English, French and Spanish from the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
23 May 2017
To all Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva
I am in the process of preparing this year's thematic report for the Human Rights Council on the impact of climate finance on the rights of indigenous peoples.
In the context of this report, I would appreciate and welcome your views and inputs on the impact of climate finance on indigenous people's rights. I am particularly interested in your outlook on the following issues.
Victoria Tauli Corpuz, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and former Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, recently talked with UN Women about engaging indigenous women in climate action during the 16th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (24 April – 5 May, 2017). The Forum marked the 10-year anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and hosted a side event on indigenous women.
Ten years since the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, what is the status of indigenous women now? Where have you seen the most progress and where are the gaps?
The most significant change in the past ten years since the Declaration was adopted, is that indigenous women have strengthened their organizations and networks. They are more engaged—and more number of indigenous women are engaged—in UN and intergovernmental processes. For example, this year was the first time in sixty years that the UN Commission on the Status of Women—the largest intergovernmental gathering on women's rights—focused on indigenous women's issues.
Statement by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples 16th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 1 May 2017, New York
Madame Chairperson of the Permanent Forum, Distinguished Members of the Permanent Forum, Chairperson of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Excellencies, indigenous representatives, ladies and gentlemen,
I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Permanent Forum and all those attending this session to celebrate and share some views on this year's Permanent Forum's topic on the "Tenth Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: measures taken to implement the Declaration". As I already shared some of my views during the General Assembly High Level event earlier this week, I will not dwell very much on this. I will just highlight a few points which I think are important to reiterate. I will report on how I have implemented my mandate in the past year and during my third year as Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people.
High-Level Event of the General Assembly to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Statement by Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples 25 April 2017, New York
Honorable President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations, President Morales, Honorable Mr. Gilmour, Madame Chairperson of the Permanent Forum, Chairperson of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Excellencies, indigenous representatives, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Introduction
In September 2007, during the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ('the Declaration), I had the honour to address the General Assembly as the Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In my speech, I referred to the historical moment and stated that,
(t)he challenge to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of Indigenous Peoples Rights has just begun. (...) Effective implementation of the Declaration will be the test of commitment of States and the whole international community to protect, respect and fulfil indigenous peoples collective and individual human rights.
TEGUCIGALPA, 21 de abril de 2017 – El viernes 21 de abril de 2017, la Sra. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, concluyó una visita de trabajo que realizó al país por invitación del Gobierno de la República de Honduras.
Previo a un análisis más profundo de su visita, la Relatora comentó de manera preliminar:
"A invitación del Gobierno de Honduras, llevé a cabo una visita de trabajo al país del 17 al 20 de abril de 2017 con el objetivo de evaluar el seguimiento dado a mis observaciones de diciembre 2016 sobre el Anteproyecto de Ley Marco de consulta libre, previa e informada a los pueblos indígenas y afrohondureños, en las cuales expresaba unas preocupaciones de procedimiento y de contenido con respecto al proceso en curso.
TEGUCIGALPA, 12 de abril de 2017 – La Sra. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, a invitación del Gobierno de Honduras, realizará una visita de trabajo oficial al país para darle seguimiento a sus observaciones y recomendaciones en relación al proceso para regular la consulta libre, previa e informada a los pueblos indígenas y afrohondureños.
GENEVA (4 April 2017) – Australia must reduce the "astounding" rates of imprisonment for indigenous peoples and step up the fight against racism, a United Nations human rights expert has concluded, at the end of an official visit.
The Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, said: "It is alarming that, while the country has adopted numerous policies to address the socio-economic disadvantage of Aboriginal peoples and those from the Torres Strait Islands, it has failed to respect their rights to self-determination and to full and effective participation in society."
End of Mission Statement by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz of her visit to Australia, 3 April 2017
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of Australia, and pay my respects to their Elders, to their ancestors and the generations to come for they hold the memories, the traditions and future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.
In my capacity as Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, I have visited Australia from 20 March to 3 April. I thank the Government for having invited me and for its good cooperation during the visit. During the fifteen day visit, I met high-level representatives of the Federal, State and Territories Governments, members of Parliament and the Senate, members of the Judiciary, the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, the Australian Human Rights Commission and a broad range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and representatives as well as civil society organisations working for their rights.
GENEVA (14 March 2017) – The human rights situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia is to be examined by the UN Special Rapporteur, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, who will visit the country from 20 March to 3 April.
During her visit, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz will address a number of diverse issues including measures and policies adopted to reduce indigenous disadvantage, the administration of justice and detention conditions, land rights and native title, prevention of violence against women and the rate of children removed from their homes by officials.
The Special Rapporteur will also review the application of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) and its successor 'Stronger Futures' legislation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. / GENEVA (3 March 2017) – A UN human rights expert has called on all levels of government in the United States to adopt consistent practices when consulting with indigenous tribes on projects that could affect their rights, like the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The appeal was made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, at the end of a mission to the US to assess the impact of energy development projects. During the visit, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz, noted that, in spite of a US commitment to positive and meaningful engagement with tribal governments, challenges remained.
The Special Rapporteur said: "The legislative regime regulating consultation, while well intentioned, has failed to ensure effective and informed consultations with tribal governments. The breakdown of communication and lack of good faith in the review of federal projects leaves tribal governments unable to participate in dialogue with the United States on projects affecting their lands, territories, and resources."
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz End of Mission Statement 3 March 2017
In my capacity as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, I carried out a visit to the United States of America from 22 February to 3 March 2017 to study the human rights situation of indigenous peoples, in particular with regard to energy development projects, and to follow up on key recommendations made by my predecessor, James Anaya, in both his 2012 report on the situation of indigenous peoples in the United States (1) and his 2013 report on indigenous peoples and extractive industries.(2)
Over the last ten days I have travelled to: Washington, D.C.; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Window Rock, Arizona; Boulder, Colorado; Fort Yates, Fort Berthold and Bismarck, North Dakota. I met with representatives of the federal government in Washington, D.C., including federal and regional representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of State, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Department of Justice. In North Dakota, I met with the Governor, and representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office and the Commission on Indian Affairs. I also met with members of the legislative branch including the office of Senator John Hoeven, chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and the office of ranking member Norma Torres of the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs. Finally, I met with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
GENEVA / WASHINGTON (21 February 2017) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz will undertake a country visit to the United States of America from 22 February to 3 March to study the human rights situation of indigenous peoples, in particular with regard to energy development projects.
"I will place particular focus on developments in areas of extractive industries and examine, among other things, progress and gaps, and make recommendations for the way forward for the current administration," Ms. Tauli-Corpuz said recalling the recommendations made in a 2012 report on the USA by her predecessor, James Anaya.
The independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the human rights situation of indigenous peoples around the world will travel to Washington, D.C; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Window Rock, Arizona; Boulder, Colorado; and Bismarck, North Dakota.
During her ten-day mission, the Special Rapporteur will meet representatives of the Government and Congress, American Indian tribes and individuals and civil society organisations working on issues related to indigenous peoples' rights.
Presentación de la Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, en el I Congreso sobre pueblos indígenas aislados en la Amazonía ecuatoriana: situación y problemática, Ecuador, 22 de noviembre de 2016.
"En esta presentación comenzaré por repasar el trabajo realizado en el marco de las Naciones Unidas en relación con los derechos de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento y contacto inicial, prestando especial atención a las Directrices de la Oficina del Alto Comisionado para los Derechos Humanos (OACNUDH) para la protección de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento y en contacto inicial de la Región Amazónica, el Gran Chaco y la Región Oriental de Paraguay, y al mandato de la Relatoría Especial. Presentaré después algunas conclusiones y recomendaciones en relación con los principales problemas que se producen en los niveles local y nacional, donde viven los pueblos en aislamiento, incluyendo propuestas para fortalecer el trabajo del sistema de la ONU en términos de supervisión y de apoyo a las acciones legales y políticas necesarias para garantizar que estos pueblos disfrutan de sus derechos humanos individuales y colectivos."
GINEBRA (13 de febrero de 2017) – Un grupo de expertos* en derechos humanos de las Naciones Unidas instó hoy a los diputados guatemaltecos a aprovechar la oportunidad histórica que representa la aprobación de la reforma constitucional en materia de justicia, contenida en la iniciativa 5179.
La reforma constitucional busca mejorar el acceso a la justicia, en especial para las mujeres y los pueblos indígenas; fortalecer la independencia e imparcialidad del Poder Judicial mediante la separación de las funciones administrativas y jurisdiccionales de la Corte Suprema de Justicia; despolitizar la selección de funcionarios judiciales; y reconocer constitucionalmente la jurisdicción indígena.
"Exhortamos al Congreso de la República a preservar el objetivo y espíritu original de la reforma constitucional, y a no menoscabar su integralidad y el carácter participativo e inclusivo del proceso que contó con los aportes de diversos sectores de la población", señalaron los expertos.
"Pedimos a los legisladores que en las discusiones y aprobación final de la reforma constitucional se dé una respuesta adecuada a las necesidades identificadas para el fortalecimiento efectivo del sistema de justicia", dijeron.
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Keynote Address
3rd Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD , 10 and 13 February 2017, IFAD Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Thank you very much for inviting me to say a few words at this opening session of the 3rd Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum here at IFAD. Since I started to know and engage with IFAD in 2002, there have been many significant developments which I would like to highlight today. 2017 is the 10th year anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly in 2007. Thus, I will use this opportunity to cite what I think IFAD has done to implement the Declaration. Article 41 of the Declaration states that;
"The organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations System and other intergovernmental organizations shall contribute to the full realization of the provisions of this Declaration through the mobilization, inter alia, of financial cooperation and technical assistance. Ways and means of ensuring participation of indigenous peoples on issues affecting them shall be established."
At the recently held UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Expert Group Meeting which dealt with the implementation of the Declaration, I cited some good practices done by IFAD in this regard. Article 41 clearly says ways and means of ensuring indigenous peoples' participation shall be established. What you have done in terms of adopting a Policy on Engagement with Indigenous Peoples, setting up of institutional mechanisms for sustained dialogue with indigenous peoples, such as this Indigenous Peoples' Forum and related processes, the placement of the internal work on indigenous peoples within the Operations Department within IFAD and the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples'Assistance Facility (IPAF) are some of the ways you are implementing the Declaration. No other UN agency or international financial institution, as of yet, has matched these accomplishments of yours.
La Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas publica su informe de Comentarios acerca del documento denominado "Anteproyecto de Ley Marco de consulta libre, previa e informada a los pueblos indígenas y afrohondureños".
El informe ofrece, en primer lugar, observaciones sobre la elaboración y el proceso de socialización del Anteproyecto. Seguidamente, se tratan los aspectos de fondo en relación al texto del Anteproyecto. Ello comprende observaciones y recomendaciones sobre: las fuentes normativas de la consulta previa; el ámbito de aplicación de la consulta previa; los sujetos del derecho a la consulta y la representatividad indígena; el procedimiento para la consulta previsto en el Anteproyecto; el consentimiento libre, previo e informado; la institucionalidad estatal y los mecanismos de supervisión, monitoreo y exigibilidad de la consulta; y otras consideraciones relacionadas con la capacitación, asistencia técnica y fortalecimiento de las estructuras representativas indígenas. Finalmente, se presentan conclusiones sobre la elaboración y contenido del Anteproyecto y sobre el tema de la consulta previa en general.
GENEVA (30 December 2016) – A group of United Nations human rights experts* have criticized the Government of Ecuador for stifling civil society, after issuing an order for the closure of an NGO which supports environmental and indigenous rights.
On 18 December, 'Acción Ecológica' called for a Peace and Truth Commission to explore the attacks on indigenous and environmental rights. Two days later, the Ministry of the Environment initiated the dissolution process, giving the group 24 hours to respond and ten days to present defence evidence.
The move against 'Acción Ecológica' comes amidst a conflict involving indigenous Shuar people who are trying to halt mining on what they claim to be their territory. The campaign group, which has vocally supported the indigenous protesters, is the latest in a series of organizations to be targeted by the government.
The group of independent human rights experts urged the Ecuadorian authorities to reverse the decision and reform the legislation it is using to dissolve the groups. The UN experts have already censure the government for dissolving groups such as 'Pachamama' and the 'Unión Nacional de Educadores', and also attempting to close the NGO 'Fundamedios' over the past three years. "The Government of Ecuador seems to be systematically dissolving organizations when they become too vocal or challenge government orthodoxy," they said. "This strategy to asphyxiate civil society has been implemented via two decrees - 16 and 739 - which give the authorities powers to unilaterally dissolve any kind of organization."
A research meeting, "Consultation and consent: Intercultural perspectives in resource governance", was hosted by Matawa First Nations Management in Thunder Bay, Ontario over several days in late October 27, 2016. This event was a key milestone in the research project led by Dr. Terry Mitchell at Laurier University funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant. The project is examining the experiences of consultation and processes of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in resource development across four regions: northern Ontario, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Chile.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, was welcomed with a dinner and greetings from Chief Peter Collins from Fort William First Nation and Elder Gerry Martin. The Special Rapporteur then gave a public talk at Lakehead University, "Free, Prior, and Informed Consent: A local and global issue", which was attended by nearly 300 people, in which she shared about the challenges and opportunities in implementing free, prior, and informed consent.
Presentation by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, for the International Colloquium on the free, prior, informed consultation: International and regional standards and experiences. Mexico City, 8 November 2016.
"In the course of my mandate, the issue of consultation and free, prior and informed consent has arisen in the context of specific cases brought to my attention through the communications procedure, in country visits, and meetings with indigenous and government representatives. The concern consistently expressed is the lack of effective implementation of consultation in the context of legislative measures or plans for natural resource development and investment projects."
"In this presentation, I will begin by addressing the legal foundations of the principles of consultation and consent and its intended purposes and objectives within the broader framework of international law on indigenous peoples' rights. I will then address the challenges faced in the implementation of consultation and consent standards, including in the process of developing legislation, institutional development and cross-cutting coordination. This would include some comparative experiences in other countries. Lastly, I will present some recommendations for the road ahead."
Victoria Tauli Corpuz, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and former Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, recently talked with UN Women about engaging indigenous women in climate action during the 16th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (24 April – 5 May, 2017). The Forum marked the 10-year anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and hosted a side event on indigenous women.
TEGUCIGALPA, 12 de abril de 2017 – La Sra. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Relatora Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, a invitación del Gobierno de Honduras, realizará una visita de trabajo oficial al país para darle seguimiento a sus observaciones y recomendaciones en relación al proceso para regular la consulta libre, previa e informada a los pueblos indígenas y afrohondureños.
GENEVA (4 April 2017) – Australia must reduce the "astounding" rates of imprisonment for indigenous peoples and step up the fight against racism, a United Nations human rights expert has concluded, at the end of an official visit.
Presentación de la Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, en el I Congreso sobre pueblos indígenas aislados en la Amazonía ecuatoriana: situación y problemática, Ecuador, 22 de noviembre de 2016.
La Relatora Especial de las Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas publica su informe de Comentarios acerca del documento denominado "Anteproyecto de Ley Marco de consulta libre, previa e informada a los pueblos indígenas y afrohondureños".
