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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE COMMONWEALTH

a Dialogue hosted by

• Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples (CAIP)
• Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU)
• European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights (ENIAR)

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COMMONWEALTH POLICY STUDIES UNIT
28 RUSSELL SQUARE, LONDON, WC1B 5DS
7 JUNE 2002
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Statement on Behalf of the High Commission for Human Rights
Johno Scott, Indigenous Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ladies and Gentlemen it gives me great pleasure to address this gathering on behalf of Mrs. Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Last month saw a great leap forward in the United Nations system when during the First session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, the Secretary General Kofu Annan closed the meeting saying to Indigenous delegates ‘you have a home in the United Nations’. This statement added and strengthened the welcome from the President of the Economic and Social Council who two weeks prior bade Indigenous peoples ‘welcome to the United Nations family’.

With the inauguration of the Permanent Forum last month, Indigenous issues assume their rightful place - higher on the international agenda than ever before.

The OHCHR was asked by the Secretary General to be the lead agency in the establishment of the Forum and for our part, we have asked all United Nations organisations to consider how they can contribute to the success of the forum.

The High Commissioner and her office celebrates the establishment of the Permanent Forum - and we say celebrate deliberately. This raising of the profile of indigenous issues began a long time ago for indigenous peoples who first approach the UN in 1923. The Vienna World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 acknowledged that Indigenous peoples needed to find a space within the UN system to address the serious issues affecting their communities.

It is satisfying that this achievement is a share one of both Indigenous peoples and governments - a partnership in action - which co-incidentally is the theme of the International Decade of the Worlds Indigenous People. And that is my message to the Commonwealth - partnership.

Just as Indigenous peoples now have a space within the UN to family to meet, exchange information and co-ordinate our efforts, it would be pleasing to see such a space and such a partnership fully developed between the Commonwealth and her Indigenous peoples.

In saying this, I remind all, that Indigenous peoples come not just to air their grievances and seek justice - although these matters involving land and waters are crucial and go to the very heart of Indigenous culture and identity, but they come also to enrich our lives and find common solutions to world problems such as sustainable development and environmental protection.

Currently, Indigenous peoples have many issues that need to be addressed, foremost are land and waters, the protection of cultural and spiritual identities, the protection of traditional knowledge and Indigenous intellectual property, and addressing discrimination and the great social disadvantage faced by many Indigenous peoples on a daily basis. In particular I have great concern for the impacts of social disadvantage and multiple discrimination, on Indigenous women, youth and children.

I place great reliance on strong national and regional institutions in advancing human rights and in particular Indigenous rights. The Commonwealth is one such institution that can do a great deal to promote human rights throughout its membership.

The Commonwealth will find that by embracing its Indigenous peoples there is much in fact that Indigenous peoples can do for the Commonwealth. Their cultural diversity is a treasure for all humankind and beyond their traditional knowledge and cultural accomplishments, the Indigenous peoples of the World are possessed with a unique spirituality, vision and sense of community. If the Commonwealth can open its heart to her indigenous peoples and find a way to share some of the wisdom and world view of their peoples with the Commonwealth and the wider international community, then this may prove the most important and enduring achievement of this important organisation.

Thankyou.

Johno Scott
Indigenous Human Rights Officer
Indigenous Projects Team
Right to Development Branch
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Email: jscott.hchr@unog.ch

related links

• CERD and Indigenous peoples: A case study in Australia
  A presentation by Geoff Clark, Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
• A background note on Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project
  by Dr Helena Whall, Project Officer, CPSU
• Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU)
• Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU)
  • CPSU Memorandum to the Commonwealth Heads of Government attending CHOGM, Brisbane, Australia, 6-9 October 2001
    Addendum, Coolum, Australia, 2-5th March, 2002
• Indigenous groups accuse Govt of conspiracy at CHOGM
  Indigenous groups from Commonwealth countries claim the Australian Government has conspired to keep their issues from being discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
• More Commonwealth information and links
  
• United Nations Draft Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (An Analysis of the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples can be found at ATSIC)
• International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples 1994-2003
• The Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples
• The Special Rapporteur on Indigenous issues

Further information: human rights issues page - includes news index and external links

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