– Sukhai tells conference
Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, has called on the member countries of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) to renew their commitments to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, noting that although progress has been made globally in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, many challenges remain.
According to a release on Wednesday from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Minister made the statement as part of her address at the high-level event to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in New York.
In her speech which was made on behalf of GRULAC, Sukhai stated that there are currently over 45 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean who identify as Indigenous Peoples, more than 826 distinct Indigenous Peoples. As such, the region’s roots are deeply indigenous as it is a large part of the region’s identity.
She reminded that the commemorative meeting allowed for reflection on the progress made and challenges which remain since the adoption of the outcome document at the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, held in 2014. At that conference, GRULAC reaffirmed its support for the UNDRIP [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples] and the role of the United Nations in promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The regional body also collectively confirmed its commitment to strategic partnerships with Indigenous Peoples to address the challenges which disproportionately affect them.
GRULAC, the Minister stated, acknowledges that progress has been made globally in advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including on land issues, access to appropriate platforms to assert their rights and preserve their culture, and putting in place the relevant international framework including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. However, she acknowledged that progress has been uneven and many challenges still remain, as Indigenous Peoples are amongst the poorest globally, representing just six per cent of the world’s population but accounting for 19 per cent of the extreme poor.
Further, their life expectancy is up to 20 per cent lower than that of non-Indigenous peoples and disparities continue to exist in areas such as education, health and economic opportunities, and discrimination. Added to this, sexual harassment and violence, particularly for women and girls, remain a problem as their close relationship and interdependence with the environment make them more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards.
In spite of the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples, Sukhai also spoke of their resilience and contribution to the efforts to mitigate climate change. “Yet, Mr President, it is apt to underscore that the story of Indigenous peoples is far more than the challenges and discrimination they face. It is also about the resilience they continue to demonstrate and their important contributions to sustainable development. GRULAC recognises the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples in maintaining a balanced and resilient ecosystem. They are true guardians of the environment, protecting more than 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. They also possess critical ancestral knowledge and expertise on adaptation, mitigation and reducing climate risks. It is therefore imperative that their land and resource rights are recognised and protected, and their cultural heritage preserved.”
She urged the regional body to begin to collectively look towards the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in 2027, as a key moment to take stock of its implementation and build on the outcomes of the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.
The minister ended her address by urging GRULAC to redouble its efforts to surmount the challenges that remain, to commit the resources needed, to ensure the national policy and legislative frameworks are in place, and to always ensure that Indigenous Peoples are part of the decision-making processes at all levels, in matters which affect them. Noting that by doing so, “We can guarantee a world where Indigenous Peoples thrive, their human rights are respected and protected, and their contributions are recognised.”
The government here has been accused by some indigenous groups of not consulting them on important matters such as the assignment of forests for the application of carbon credits.
