Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

1990/62. Report of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

The Commission on Human Rights, Mindful that one of the purposes of the United Nations as embodied in the Charter is to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/34 of 7 May 1982, in which the Council authorized the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to establish annually a working group on indigenous populations with the mandate to review developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous populations, giving special attention to the evolution of standards concerning the rights of indigenous populations, Recalling also its resolution 1988/44 of 8 March 1988, in which it urged the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission to intensify its efforts, in carrying out its plan of action, to continue the elaboration of international standards in this field, Having examined the report of the Working Group on its seventh session, held from 31 July to 4 August 1989 (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1989/36), Conscious that, in various situations, indigenous populations are unable to enjoy their inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms, Bearing in mind that international standards must be developed on the basis of the diverse realities of indigenous populations in all parts of the world, Determined to do everything possible to promote the enjoyment of the rights of indigenous populations,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities for its valuable work, in particular the progress made at its seventh session in the area of standard-setting, and for its continued broad approach and flexible methods of work;

2. Further expresses its appreciation for the active and constructive participation in the work of the Working Group of observers for Governments, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and, in particular, indigenous organizations and communities;

3. Welcomes the decision of the Sub-Commission to continue to entrust to the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group, Mrs. Erica-Irene Daes, the further development of a draft declaration on indigenous rights within the framework contained in her working paper, taking into consideration, inter alia, the comments on the draft declaration which will be provided by Governments, indigenous organizations and communities and other interested parties in accordance with the relevant resolution of the Sub-Commission;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to give the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group the resources and assistance needed to carry out her task;

5. Recommends to the Economic and Social Council that the Working Group on Indigenous Populations be authorized to meet for 10 serviced meetings in the 10 working days prior to the forty-second session of the Sub-Commission for the purpose of intensifying its efforts to complete a draft declaration on indigenous rights in consultation with interested Governments and organizations of indigenous peoples;

6. Recalls that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1988/37 of 27 May 1988, recommended that the General Assembly should, when appropriate, proclaim an international year of the world's indigenous populations;

7. Encourages Governments and indigenous organizations and communities, as well as other interested parties, to review and comment upon the draft declaration contained in annex II to the report of the Working Group on its seventh session as invited by the Sub-Commission;

8. Urges the Working Group to intensify its efforts to continue and to complete as soon as possible the elaboration of international standards based on a continued and comprehensive review of developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of the human rights of indigenous populations and of the situation and aspirations of indigenous populations throughout the world;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to give all necessary assistance to the Working Group in discharging its tasks, including adequate dissemination of information about the activities of the Working Group to Governments, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and organizations and communities of indigenous populations, in order to encourage the widest possible participation in its work;

10. Also requests the Secretary-General to organize, in 1991, within the existing resources and framework of the United Nations regular programme of technical co-operation, a technical conference on practical experience in the realization of sustainable and environmentally sound self-development by indigenous peoples, with the participation of experts from governments, appropriate specialized agencies and indigenous peoples organizations, which should be held along the same lines as the United Nations Seminar on the effects of racism and racial discrimination on the social and economic relations between indigenous peoples and States, held at Geneva from 16 to 20 January 1989 (E/CN.4/1989/22);

11. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments and organizations that have already made contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations;

12. Appeals to all Governments, organizations and individuals in a position to do so to consider favourably requests for initial as well as further contributions to the Fund;

13. Requests the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and the Sub-Commission to consider ways and means of broadening the scope and activities of the Voluntary Fund, in order to provide enhanced orientation for representatives of indigenous populations attending the annual sessions of the Working Group, and to transmit their recommendations to the Commission at its forty-seventh session.

53rd meeting
7 March 1990
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIX.]
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