As the UN General Assembly adopts a landmark Declaration, which several UNPO Representatives (pictured left) were heavily active in drafting, UNPO urges further steps be taken to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples

The Hague, 14 September 2007 - UNPO welcomes the adoption of the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (DRIP) by the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday 13 September 2007.

For many UNPO Members, this Declaration presents a milestone in the struggle to maintain their culture, identity, dignity, and, above all, their basic human rights.

The Declaration has long been overdue, with debates, reviews, and amendments taking place since 1983, whilst all the time the rights of indigenous people remained unrecognised and marginalised. Throughout this time, several UNPO Members have worked tirelessly on committees, at hearings, and through working groups to ensure the Declaration did not falter and be cast aside.

UNPO hopes that the adoption of the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People does not mark the end of the process, but instead that it signifies an important step towards a binding agreement on the respect and adherence of indigenous rights. As such, the Declaration should underpin the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (HRC) imminent deliberations on the future of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP), reminding those involved that there exists a need for a specialised body combining human rights and indigenous issues.

Today marks an important day for indigenous populations and for human rights as a whole, and the significance of the Declaration cannot be ignored. However, UNPO asks the international community to uphold the principles enshrined in the document, and not let the Declaration become merely a symbolic act. As underlined by UNPO Secretary General, Marino Busdachin, such neglect would result in “the annihilation of indigenous cultures and peoples”.

(Pictured: Mr. Jose Carlos Morales (Latin America), Ms. June Lorenzo (North America), UNPO Representative for Australian Aboriginals Mr. Les Malezer (Pacific), UNPO Representative for Chittagong Hill Tracts Mr.Devasish Roy (Asia), Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues), Ms.Dalee Sambo Dorough (Arctic), UNPO Representative for the Maasai Mr.Joseph Ole Simel (Africa), Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen (UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous People), Ms. Mirian Masaquiza and Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou (Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues)

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