Dr. Suikhar, the Representative for UNPO Members the Chin, has conducted an oral intervention at the Human Rights Council (HRC) this morning, supporting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) and suggesting ways to maintain and improve the effectiveness of the HRC

Below is the intervention made by Dr. Suikhar:

Mr. President,

I would like to echo the voices of indigenous brothers and sisters who did their interventions before me that I, on behalf of indigenous peoples from Asia, also warmly welcome the adoption of the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples which provides minimum norms and standards for the survival and well-being of indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Peoples, who compose over 350 million individuals around the world, are at the most times the poorest and most marginalized, victims of human rights violations, oppressed by concerned states; therefore a specific and particular reference to the situation of indigenous peoples is very essential and crucial if the Human Rights Council is serious to the promotion and protection of human rights.

I therefore would like to make the following recommendations to the Human Rights Council;

a) To include indigenous peoples issues as specific in the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) as one of the meaningful ways of implementation of the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples as additional specific part of UPR guidelines III and or V.

b) To establish an Indigenous Expert Body under the Human Rights Council to succeed the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in order to provide special advices to the Human Rights Council regarding indigenous peoples’ rights.

c) To retain and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on situations of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous peoples.

d) To include indigenous representative/s in the Advisory Committee of Human Council

Thank you.