Document Abstract
Published:
1 Jul 2008
The challenges of implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The G8 and implementation of the UNDRIP
This paper discusses the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The paper was presented at a summit in Japan and pays particular attention to the G8 and the role they can play.
It is stressed that the UNDRIP should be the framework to guide the G8 in everything they do which impacts directly on indigenous peoples. As climate change, the global food crisis, financial instability and the present day conflicts are mainly caused by the economic and political structures perpetuated by the G8 at the national and global levels, the burden of correcting these problems should fall on their shoulders. But knowing fully well that they will not carry out measures that will affect their economic and political interests, indigenous peoples and civil society organisations should be vigilant in exerting pressure on the G8.
The paper highlights some points which should be raised before the next G8 meeting:
It is stressed that the UNDRIP should be the framework to guide the G8 in everything they do which impacts directly on indigenous peoples. As climate change, the global food crisis, financial instability and the present day conflicts are mainly caused by the economic and political structures perpetuated by the G8 at the national and global levels, the burden of correcting these problems should fall on their shoulders. But knowing fully well that they will not carry out measures that will affect their economic and political interests, indigenous peoples and civil society organisations should be vigilant in exerting pressure on the G8.
The paper highlights some points which should be raised before the next G8 meeting:
- it must be proposed to the G8 that they implement the UNDRIP - this Declaration applies even for those States who did not vote for its adoption - it is now an international human rights instrument and it forms part of international human rights law
- while the Declaration is not legally binding because it is not a Convention, many of its articles are legally binding because these are taken from the existing agreements like the Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racism and Discrimination, among others
- on the food crisis, the rights of indigenous peoples to subsistence should be upheld, as well as their right to food and to determine their development priorities
- extraction of minerals, whether these be coal, uranium, and oil and gas, should not take place unless and until the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples is obtained
- compulsory measures to make corporations more accountable should be put in place.
