International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.

International Decade of the World's Indigenous People

Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/28

Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in the Charter, is the achievement of international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 48/163 of 21 December 1993 and 49/214 of 23 December 1994 on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Recalling also that the goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Decade, the need for adequate financial support from the international community, including support from within the United Nations and the specialized agencies, and the need for adequate coordination and communication channels, Recalling the invitation addressed by the General Assembly to indigenous organizations and other non-governmental organizations to consider the contributions they can make to the success of the Decade, with a view to presenting them to the Working Group on indigenous populations, Noting Economic and Social Council decision 1992/255 of 20 July 1992, in which the Council requested United Nations bodies and specialized agencies to ensure that all technical assistance financed or provided by them was compatible with international instruments and standards applicable to indigenous people, and encouraged efforts to promote coordination in this field and greater participation of indigenous people in the planning and implementation of projects affecting them, Mindful of the relevant recommendations of the World Conference on Human Rights, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the International Conference on Population and Development, Recognizing the value and diversity of the cultures and forms of social organization of indigenous people, and convinced that the development of indigenous people within their countries will contribute to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental advancement of all the countries of the world,

1. Takes note of the preliminary report of the Secretary-General on a comprehensive programme of action for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (A/49/444) and the annexes to that report;

2. Welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to adopt the short-term programme of activities for 1995 contained in annex II to the report of the Secretary-General;

3. Decides that the final programme of activities for 1995 should be that contained in the annex to the present resolution;

4. Invites Governments to give full consideration to the final comprehensive programme of action for the Decade to be considered by the General Assembly at its fiftieth session;

5. Takes note of the request of the General Assembly for the establishment of a unit within the Centre for Human Rights to support its activities related to indigenous people, in particular to plan, coordinate and implement activities for the Decade;

6. Also takes note of the recommendation of the General Assembly that a second technical meeting on the planning of the Decade be convened immediately prior to the thirteenth session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission and of the decision to consider at a later session the convening of meetings for planning and review purposes at appropriate intervals during the Decade.

52nd meeting 3 March 1995, [Adopted without a vote] First quarter Establishment of the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People Preparation and dissemination of presentation video on the Decade Second quarter Publication of first information book about the Decade Eighth session of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations Establishment of a fellowship programme for indigenous people Initiation of an information programme linking the Coordinator to focal points of the United Nations system, national committees for the Decade and, through appropriate channels, indigenous networks Consultation with the interim advisory group of the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade Third quarter Technical meeting on the Decade to finalize recommendations for the programme of action Thirteenth session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations First session of the advisory group of the Voluntary Fund for the International Decade International Day of Indigenous People, 9 August Fourth quarter Expert meeting on land rights and claims of indigenous people Inter-agency consultation on practical measures to implement the Programme of Activities for the Decade: special consideration of a preliminary project outline to consider how the United Nations system can aggregate data specific to indigenous people by means of enhancing and facilitating the coordination capabilities of Member States for collecting and analysing such data Workshop on indigenous women Submission of Secretary-General's final report on the Programme of Activities for the Decade Publication of poster, brochure, media kit and other information material for the Decade