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The United Nations Declaration is contained in the Report of the Human Rights Council

>>> UN Radio Coverage of the Declaration

>>> Press Release: UN system and NGOs call for an early adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly, 17 October 2006

>>> Statement by Mr. Jose Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and the Coordinator of the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People to the Third Committee on Indigenous Issues, 16 October 2006

>>> Media Advisory: Events to celebrate the historic United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

>>> Media Advisory: Press Conference to discuss the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

>>> FAQs: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

>>> An Appeal to the General Assembly on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of UNPFII and Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur on the Situation on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People. Available in English, Spanish and French.

>>>Webcast of Press Conference, 13 October on the Declaration

A historical overview

On June 29, 2006, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This decision comes as a result of more than twenty years of work by indigenous peoples and the United Nations system.

The efforts to draft a specific instrument dealing with the protection of indigenous peoples worldwide date back over two decades. In 1982 the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) established the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (WGIP) with the mandate to develop a set of minimum standards that would protect indigenous peoples. WGIP was established as result of a study by José R. Martinez Cobo on the problem of discrimination faced by indigenous peoples throughout the world. The study outlined the oppression, marginalization and exploitation suffered by indigenous peoples.
WGIP submitted a first draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, which was later approved in 1994. The Draft was sent for consideration to the then U.N. Commission on Human Rights for further discussion and if it was deemed to be appropriate, to approve the proposed declaration before its submission to ECOSOC and the U.N. General Assembly.

The process moved very slowly because of concerns expressed by States with regard to some of the core provisions of the draft declaration, namely the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples and the control over natural resources existing on indigenous peoples' traditional lands. The need to accommodate these issues led to the creation, in 1995, of the open-ended inter-sessional working group to consider and elaborate on the 1994 draft declaration with the view that it would be adopted by the General Assembly within the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995-2004). The mandate of the Working Group was extended by the U.N.Commission on Human Rights into the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples (2005-2015). The Commission also urged the Working Group to "present for adoption as soon as possible a final draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people".

At the 11th Session of the Working Group 2005/6, the Chairperson Mr. Luis-Enrique Chavez (Peru) prepared a compilation of proposals submitted and discussed during the 10th session, which formed the basis of negotiations. The Declaration, adopted by the U.N. Human Rights Council in June 2006 is the exact version proposed by Chairperson Chavez.

It is expected that the Declaration will be submitted for adoption by the General Assembly at its 61st. Session. If adopted, the Declaration will not be legally binding for Member States. Nevertheless, it will have a major effect on indigenous peoples worldwide in regards to their rights. It is a comprehensive statement addressing issues such as collective rights, cultural rights and identity in addition to rights to education, health, employment and language among others. The Declaration emphasizes the right of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in accordance withe their aspirations and needs. The Declaration will undoubtedly assist indigenous peoples in their efforts to combat discrimination and racism.

The Third Committee will take up agenda item 68 "Report of the Human Rights Council" on Wednesday 1 November at 10 a.m. and will take action in due course on the recommendations contained therein, including the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Should the Committee adopt the Declaration, it would recommend it for adoption by the General Assembly in its report of the Assembly under item 68, to be taken up by the Plenary in the course of December.

Non Governmental Organizations with ECOSOC status

If you are intending to come to New York in October 2006 for the passage of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, you will need an appropriate ground pass to enter United Nations Headquarters.

The following information was gleaned from DESA-NGO website:

How to get a grounds pass in New York?
In order to get a pass, NGO representatives must come first to the NGO section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (New York).

One UN Plaza, Room DC1-1480
(First Avenue and 44th Street)
tel: (1-212) 963-8652
fax: (1-212) 963-9248
desangosection@un.org

Once in the lobby of the DC1 Building (One UN Plaza) please show a copy of the form where the representative is being designated to the security guard and come up to the 14th floor. Our office will authorize the issuance of a pass and direct the representatives to go to the Pass and I.D. Unit of the United Nations Security and Safety Service, located at 45th Street and First Avenue (UNITAR Building), where their picture will be taken and a grounds pass will be given to them. Please allow at least 20 minutes for this transaction.

Passes are issued Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Forms (to obtain a ground pass) can be downloaded from the DESA-NGO website (click on Forms and Documents and then on 2006 Form for designating NGO representatives to the United Nations). If you have a specific query, it is suggested you contact Michele Fedoroff <fedoroff@un.org> on telephone: 1 212 963 8485 at One UN Plaza, Room DC1-1482 in New York.

Non-governmental organizations without consultative status with ECOSOC

In order to attend the General Assembly Third Committee meetings on indigenous issues, NGOs without United Nations IDs are requested to contact the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII) to be placed on a list for temporary non-photo passes (for up to 5 days). These passes will allow access to the public gallery of the conference room. Please send your request no later than 10 October 2006 to: IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org indicating which days you would like to attend beginning 16 October. In your request please indicate your name, address and other contact information and your organizational affiliation.

Once you have contacted SPFII and are placed on the ID request list, you may proceed to the United Nations Visitors Entrance located at 1st Avenue and 46th street, where you will enter a security tent. Once through the tent, continue to the public lobby to a registration table for your pass (marked "Third Committee NGO passes") that will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. on 16 and 17 October.