For International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Friday 9 August 2013
“Broken treaties must become a thing of the past” – UN expert calls for reconciliation with indigenous peoples
Geneva, 9 August 2013 – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, today
urged Governments worldwide to respect all agreements -new and old- with indigenous peoples to provide a basis for much
needed reconciliation and overcome all obstacles to the full realization of indigenous peoples’ rights.
“Indigenous peoples around the world face significant challenges that are related to widespread historical wrongs,
including broken treaties and acts of oppression and misguided government policies, that today manifest themselves in
disadvantages and impediments to the exercise of their individual and collective rights,” the expert said on
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
“Full respect for treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements is a crucial element in advancing toward
reconciliation with indigenous peoples,” he underscored, “and in addressing persistent deep-rooted problems related to
historical wrongs, failed policies of the past, and continuing barriers to the full realization of indigenous peoples’
rights”.
The right of indigenous peoples to recognition and enforcement of treaties, agreements and other constrictive
arrangements is a key right recognized in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. The Declaration preamble
further recognizes that these rights are ‘the basis for a strengthened partnership between indigenous peoples and
States.’
“Honouring treaties and other long-standing agreements can go far in helping to build trust among indigenous peoples and
to rebuild relationships between States and indigenous peoples in a true spirit of good faith, partnership, and mutual
respect,” he noted.
The Special Rapporteur stressed that this should be part of a broader dialogue, both at the international and national
levels, “to help build understanding between indigenous peoples and others, and to help shift any persistent negative
attitudes or misunderstandings about indigenous peoples and their rights.”
With respect to new treaties and agreements being developed, including in relation to extractive industries operating in
or near indigenous lands, the UN expert underscored that these should be consistent with international standards
concerning the rights of indigenous peoples, both in relation to indigenous participation in these processes as well as
in terms of substantive outcomes.
“In no instance should new treaties or agreements fall below or undermine the standards set forth in the Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or established in other international sources,” he said.
“Broken treaties must become a thing of the past,” he stressed.
The UN Human Rights Council appointed S. James Anaya as Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in March
2008. Mr. Anaya is a Regents Professor and the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the
University of Arizona (United States). As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and
serves in his individual capacity. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/ orwww.unsr.jamesanaya.org
See the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElement
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