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WGIP Agenda Item 7: The Human Rights Situation of Indigenous Peoples in States and Territories thre |
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Monday, 07 August 2006 |
Joshua Cooper, UNPO Senior Advisor, discusses the success and importance of the WGIP and gives recommendations for future work in the area of Global Warming and the human rights of indigenous peoples
When indigenous peoples are looking for reasons for future sessions of the UN WGIP and possible new means and mechanisms to be created in the UN Human Rights Council, Agenda Item 7 The Human Rights Situation of indigenous peoples in States and territories threatened with extinction for environmental reasons - proves exemplary of the necessity for the continuation and credibility of the purpose behind this annual gathering focusing on the human rights of indigenous peoples.
It is a living and breathing example of what the Working Group can do and has consistently been doing for decades. Indigenous peoples bring current challenges to the expert body. Experts recognize the merits of the claims and create studies to better understand the issue. When creativity is required, experts even do other means to gather information such as questionnaires to gain insight into the legal question. Also, the recent tradition born here in the UN WGIP where indigenous peoples, NGOs and experts collaborate together in standard setting to create studies is a model for future mechanisms and illustrates the imagination of this unique, universal body. There are also workshops in respective regions on legal matters to bring together peoples directly impacted and also to allow all indigenous peoples to share their experiences and expertise in the field. All of these actions offer practical solutions.
Three years ago, the indigenous peoples of the Pacific raised this issue at this very body and Francoise Hampson spearheaded an initial study. Hampson then continued to network with the Pacific Caucus and Hawaii Institute for Human Rights to serve as a nexus for information and initiatives.
At the initial meeting, some people were unsure about the relevancy of this issue in the framework of human rights. Less than a half decade has passed and already indigenous peoples are recognizing the commonality of the challenges facing their communities. The specific example of global warming is a new wave of colonialism where indigenous peoples face circumstances adversely affecting their human rights resulting from actions beyond their borders impacting their sacred homelands.
Today, every region is recognizing the impacts of climate change in their community. Were the WGIP, this item would continue to grow in its importance. As it is, it cannot be ignored in the future of human rights in the United Nations.
Here are some recommendations for future work in the area of Human Rights and Global Warming relating to Indigenous peoples:
1. The WGIP should distribute to states and assemble the results of the questionnaire on The Legal Implications of Disappearance of States and Other Territories for Environmental Reasons, Including the Implications for the Human Rights of Their Residents, with Particular Reference to the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Perhaps, indigenous peoples should also be able to provide information as they are close to the land and recognize emerging environmental changes.
2. The WGIP should make sure the legal, statistical and factual data to identify the environmental threats is shared with UN specialized agencies, programs and funds. There should be further collaboration building on the data in cooperation with other UN bodies.
3. UN WGIP should prioritize the study of this imminent issue in the recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council.
4. UN WGIP should explore creative inclusion and continuation of the study and special procedures to continue the necessary work in the UN Human Rights Council and any subsidiary body established in the future.
5. UN WGIP support Community Trainings, Workshops and Seminars to listen to people directly affected with disappearance due to extreme environmental conditions.
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