Statement by the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
New York, 9-20 May, 2016
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
We highlight the valuable work undertaken by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and its Secretariat, by the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and by the Mechanism of Experts on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
CELAC welcomes the organization of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, held on 22 and 23 September 2014 in New York, and its outcome document.
CELAC reaffirms its commitment with the implementation of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. And in this regard CELAC further welcomes the General Assembly Resolution 70/232 which urges Governments and the United Nations system, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples through their representatives and institutions, to develop and implement, where relevant, appropriate measures, concrete policies, plans, programmes, projects and other measures to realize the commitments made in the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Moreover we like to express that CELAC countries have commitment in this respect.
In this regard, CELAC welcomes the Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/30/L.9 that requests the review of the mandate of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and awaits with great interest the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to be submitted at its 32nd Session, with the recommendations aimed at modifying and improving the Expert Mechanism so that it can more effectively promote respect for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in this regard invites all stakeholders to continue contributing to the consultation process.
Also, as a follow up to the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, CELAC would also like to recognize the development of the System Wide Action Plan to ensure a coherent approach to achieving the ends of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, guaranteeing that the United Nations advocates with one voice for indigenous peoples rights and implement programs in a coordinated way.
Furthermore, CELAC recalls the commitment made in the outcome document to consider ways to enable the participation of indigenous people’s representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them. In this regard CELAC countries express their support to the consultation process being conducted by the President of the General Assembly on possible measures to ensure the participation of indigenous people’s representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant United Nations bodies on issues affecting them. We urge all relevant stakeholders to actively participate in this inclusive process.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes and reaffirms that indigenous individuals are entitled without discrimination to all human rights recognized in international law, and that the indigenous peoples possess collective rights for their existence, well-being and integral development as peoples.
Mr. President,
In the "Addis Ababa Action Agenda", we encouraged knowledge-sharing and promotion of cooperation and partnership between stakeholders. At the same time, we recognized that traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities can support social well-being and sustainable livelihoods and we reaffirmed that indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.
We believe that the eradication of poverty and sustainable development with social, economic and financial inclusion are challenges that require global, regional and national efforts, as well as that of our local governments and our communities. The irreversible eradication of poverty is a prerequisite for sustainable development and to ensure the equality of opportunities of progress for the societies. Sustainable development cannot be attained without the inclusion of groups and people in vulnerable situation such as, indigenous peoples, and afro-descendants, including women, elderly, persons with disabilities, migrants, children and adolescents.
Equity, social and financial inclusion and access to fair credit are central to ensure overall access to justice, participation, well-being, and living-well with a dignified life for Indigenous Peoples and for all. The promotion of culture of peace and non-violence are also fundamental elements for the attainment of sustainable development.
In this regard CELAC countries welcome the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which recognizes the link between eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, combating inequality within and among countries, preserving the planet, creating sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and fostering social inclusion, with the pledge that no one will be left behind.
Mr. President,
CELAC recognizes that Indigenous Peoples play a significant role in sustainable development and recognizes also the importance of traditional sustainable agricultural practices, associated with biodiversity and the exploitation of their resources, their right to access to suitable water for irrigation, in keeping with the legislation of each country, and their traditional systems of land tenure, seed supply systems and access to financing and markets.
We decided to strengthen, in a comprehensive manner, the productive basis, placing emphasis on sustainable local and cultural practices of indigenous peoples and local communities for integrated management with a view to optimizing the use of and access to water for irrigation purposes by proper management of basins, the recovery of soil fertility by replenishing green cover, compost production, terrace cropping, and the preservation and increase of biodiversity through the recovery and production of native seeds and improved seed production, according to the legislation of each country.
CELAC recognizes the importance of taking into consideration the essential role of the collective action of indigenous peoples and local populations in the preservation and sustainable use of biological diversity as a significant contribution to the planet.
CELAC reiterates the need to take steps to protect the patents on traditional and ancestral knowledge of indigenous and tribal peoples and local communities to prevent violation by third parties by registrations that ignore their ownership, and to promote their fair and equitable share of the benefits derived from their use. We support in this regard the on-going negotiations taking place in the relevant multilateral forums.
Mr. President,
CELAC has constantly promoted the rights and dignity of women and girls, indigenous peoples, people of African descent, children, youth, older persons, migrants, persons with disabilities and all persons in vulnerable or marginalized groups, since they are often excluded from the gains of national development and still subjected to discrimination and social exclusion.
We support the empowerment and capacity-building of indigenous women and youth, including their participation in decision-making processes in matters that affect them, in particular in the areas of health, education, employment, the protection of their territories and natural resources and the transmission of traditional knowledge, languages and practices. Measures to promote awareness and understanding of their rights are also important.
Therefore CELAC acknowledges the progress made in the Agreed Conclusions and at the Multiyear Program of Work of the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, making direct reference to indigenous women and girls, recognizing their distinct and important contribution to sustainable development; and also welcomes the decision of the Bureau to place the issue of empowerment of indigenous women as a focus area of the 61th Session of the CSW, in accordance with the request made in the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. President,
With General Assembly resolution 69/327, we recognized, the positive contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities, including through some of their traditional values and principles, to strengthening individual and societal commitments in order to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of public administration and promote inclusive and accountable public services for sustainable development, including the Andean principles of ama suwa (do not be a thief), ama llulla (do not be a liar) and ama qhilla (do not be lazy), among others, while recognizing that it is a duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Finally, CELAC countries look forward to actively participate at the high-level event to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to be held during the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, in 2017. That event will take stock of the achievements of the preceding 10 years and assess the remaining challenges for the rights of indigenous peoples.
I thank you