wfn.org | Indigenous Peoples' walkout

[smm@wcc-coe.org]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
21 October 1996

At their request, the World Council of Churches issues the
following statement on behalf of the representatives of
Indigenous Nations and communities currently in Geneva. The text
is as follows:

                   "U.N. INSULTS AND UNDEMOCRACTICALLY EXCLUDES
                    INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE WORLD"

"Indigenous representatives from around the world walked out in
protest today from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights'
Open-ended Inter-sessional Working Group on the Draft Declaration
of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

"The Draft document, which has been under development for over a
decade, clarifies the application of international standards to
Indigenous Peoples.

"Indigenous delegates left the meeting when the chairperson
refused their request that the Working Group immediately adopt
the Draft Declaration in its present form and proceed with a
general discussion of its fundamental concepts. His reply to
their request was that only nation-states may make proposals to
the Group.

"Indigenous delegates wanted the existing draft adopted as they
recognize it as the minimum international standard for the
protection of Indigenous Peoples' rights and for their survival.
Rather than sitting with nation-states' representatives, who are
seeking to weaken the existing text, possibly continuing the
discussions until 2004, Indigenous Peoples have chosen to leave
the UN session.

"Many Indigenous representatives feel the Working Group process
is undemocratic. They would be prepared to return to what is
scheduled as a two-week session if their full and equal
participation were assured by the UN.

"Indigenous Peoples have been actively seeking such an
international instrument for 20 years and have participated in
the development of the existing Draft for the past 12 years. They
cannot sit and watch years of work, attempting to secure
recognition that international standards do indeed apply to them,
washed away point by point.

"After the Indigenous representatives had left the session, some
government delegates voiced their support for the call for
general discussion and Indigenous Peoples' full participation.
However the chairperson chose to proceed with his proposed agenda
to review the Draft clause by clause."

Representatives of the Indigenous delegates will attend a press
briefing tomorrow, 22 October, at 14:00h in the Palais des
Nations, Salle de Presse 2.

The WCC has been following the many years of these discussions
very carefully, and has facilitated the participation of
Indigenous representatives. Earlier this year, the General
Secretary of the WCC, Dr Konrad Raiser, wrote to the chairperson
of the Inter-sessional Open-ended Working Group, urging the
governments to "complete speedily its work so that the
Declaration may be submitted to the Commission, to ECOSOC and the
General Assembly for adoption by member states without
unnecessary delay".

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World Council of Churches
Press and Information Office
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
E-Mail: jwn@wcc-coe.org

P.O. Box 2100
CH-1211 Geneva 2