EC Statement - Programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, 1995-2004

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,

I have the pleasure to speak on behalf of the European Community under this agenda item. With the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People it is the time for us to take stock of the progress achieved and to reflect upon the way forward. Within the areas of activity of the European Community, the Decade has contributed to raising the visibility of indigenous peoples' issues and to embedding them firmly in our political and policy agenda.

The Member States of the European Union, through Council resolutions issued in 1998 and 2002 on indigenous peoples' issues, have set the framework for our support to indigenous peoples. The Council "acknowledges the importance that indigenous peoples attach to the affirmation of their 'self-development', that is to say, the shaping of their own social, economic and cultural development and their own cultural identities" and "that the development cooperation should contribute to enhancing the right and capacity of indigenous peoples to their 'self-development'. This implies integrating the concern for indigenous peoples as a cross-cutting aspect at all levels of development cooperation, including policy dialogue with partner countries and enhancing the capacities of indigenous peoples' organisations to take an effective part in the planning and implementation of development programmes."

This commitment has translated notably into an effort to mainstream indigenous peoples' issues into the European Commission's own practices and working methods, in particular by inviting indigenous peoples to participate at the stages of programming, designing, implementing, and evaluating development projects.

One of the consequences of this increased awareness of indigenous peoples' concerns has been to identify the fight against discrimination towards indigenous populations, and the promotion of their rights, as priorities within the European Community's flagship programme of cooperation in the field of human rights: the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. In the past few years several projects with NGOs and indigenous peoples' organizations have already been launched and are currently under way.

This year - for the first time - the European Commission will launch a call for proposals[1] specifically aiming to support the participation of indigenous peoples and their representatives in the work of mechanisms and procedures of the UN and other international and regional organizations, and to support activities aiming at the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention 169. Although actions covered by the European Commission's grants under this call for proposals may take place anywhere in the world, beneficiaries will be indigenous people from developing countries and from countries with economies in transition. Preference will be given to proposals presented by indigenous organizations or entities which have a recognized record for advocacy in favour of indigenous peoples.

Turning to the UN sphere, the European Commission shares the satisfaction of many others with the establishment of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the pivotal role it is playing in bringing indigenous issues onto the agenda of the ECOSOC and other UN bodies. We also salute the appointment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People and are committed to supporting his work, including by contributing to projects which will help implement his recommendations. We also appreciate the open debate between UN member states and representatives of indigenous peoples and civil society at large, which is taking place within the framework of the Working Group on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, and the progress now being made towards achieving a common understanding.

The European Commission therefore remains committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of the world's indigenous peoples and to building further on the positive momentum created by the International Decade.

Thank you for your attention.


[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/index_en.htm

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• Ferrero-Waldner on International Day of the World's Indigenous People (8/8/2005)
• Mission de la Délégation à New York (1/4/2005)