Press Release HR/CN/923

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Press Release
HR/CN/923 



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NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ALLEGE WIDESPREAD VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 

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Commission on Human Rights Concludes Debate on 'Indigenous Issues' 

(Reissued as received.) 


GENEVA, 19 April (UN Information Service) -- Non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) speaking before the Commission on Human Rights this evening charged
that abuses were being committed against indigenous peoples in numerous
countries. 

They also called for rapid completion of a draft United Nations Declaration
on the rights of indigenous peoples, claiming elaboration of the document
had been dragged out for years. And they sought the quick creation of a
permanent forum to represent the interests of indigenous peoples within the
United Nations system. 

A representative of the Sammi Council said the draft Declaration was
immensely important, yet had been worked on for 15 years and still was not
finished. He contended that the Declaration and other indigenous issues had
been given low priority by the Commission. 

Other NGOS alleged violations of the human rights of indigenous populations
in Chile, United States, Mexico, Malaysia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Philippines,
Colombia, West Papua, Australia, Burma and Siberia. 

A number of the organizations called for the appointment by the Commission
of a Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples. 

At the end of the evening session, the Commission concluded its discussion
of indigenous issues. It will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 20 April, to
take up the annual report of its principal subsidiary body, the
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.