Spain: Support indigenous rights

The UN will decide whether to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the next UN General Assembly expected for September 2007. If adopted the Declaration, already been approved by the Council for Human Rights last year, would recognize rights to a total of 370 million indigenous people worldwide.

Indigenous or aboriginal peoples are so-called because they were living on their lands before settlers came from elsewhere; they are the descendants of those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived, the new arrivals later becoming dominant through conquest, occupation, settlement or other means.

For more than two decades indigenous peoples have appealed to the UN to let their voice be heard, to draw attention to their situation, rights and living conditions. The result of their appeals and dialogue with institutional bodies is the text of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that on the 29th of June 2006 was accepted by the Council for Human Rights despite the opposition it was met with by countries such as Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada.

If approved this text will formalize rights and freedoms including self-determination, the preservation and development of ethnic and cultural characteristics, ownership or use of indigenous lands and natural resources and participation in the political, economic and social life of the States concerned.

What can you do?
Support the cause by signing on to Alternaniva?s petition.

Alternativa is a Spanish NGO that has been fighting for the rights of indigenous peoples since 1986. Their petition aims to show support to the indigenous representatives who will attend the September General Assembly where the Declaration is to be decided on and to raise awareness surrounding indigenous issues.

More info:

• www.ohchr.org