Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• In 1977 and 1979 conferences on discrimination against Indigenous Peoples
were held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. In addition to Martínez-Cobo's
preliminary reports, these conferences led to the formation of the Working Group
on Indigenous Populations (WGIP).
• In 1982 the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) was established
and charged with the task of drafting a document to protect Indigenous rights.
• In 1983 the Martínez-Cobo Report, “The Problem of Discrimination against
Indigenous Populations,” was released.
• In 1993 the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna recognized the
responsibility of all UN member states to respect the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of Indigenous Peoples and recommended consideration of a permanent
forum at the UN for Indigenous Peoples.
• In 1994 the UN General Assembly launched the International Decade of the
World's Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004) to increase the United Nations'
commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples
worldwide. As part of the Decade, several UN specialized agencies worked
with Indigenous Peoples to design and implement projects on health,
education, housing, human rights, the environment, and social and economic
development.
• In 1994 the General Assembly also established August 9 as the International Day
of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
• In 2000 the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established to
facilitate on-going discussions of Indigenous issues. The Forum provides expert
advice and recommendations to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),
raises awareness of Indigenous issues within the UN system, and prepares and
disseminates information on Indigenous issues.
• In 2001 a UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples was appointed to gather
and report information on violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
of Indigenous Peoples and to formulate recommendations to prevent and remedy
such violations.
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• In 2005 the General Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade of
the World's Indigenous Peoples (2005-2015) with the goal to further strengthen
international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by Indigenous
Peoples around the globe in such areas as culture, education, health, human
rights, the environment, and social and economic development.
• In 2006, after years of negotiations in which hundreds of Indigenous nations
and organizations participated, the final draft of the Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples was presented to the UN Human Rights Council, which
adopted it and sent it to the UN General Assembly for approval.
• On September 13, 2007, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
