CFSC engages in various international forums on Indigenous rights issues. Many are within the international human rights system. Others include the Organization of American States (OAS) which is developing its own regional human rights instrument regarding Indigenous peoples and the Convention on Biological Diversity where Indigenous peoples are seeking to speak to their concerns regarding biodiversity, traditional knowledge, etc.

Information related to our work in these various forums is below.

Organizations within the UN system:

UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Human Rights Council resolution 6/36 of 14 December 2007 established the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to provide the UN’s Human Rights Council with thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples in the manner and form requested by the Council.

The Expert Mechanism consists of five independent experts, who are appointed for a three-year period and may be re-elected for one additional period. In addition, in the selection and appointment process, the Human Rights Council is recommended to give due regard to experts of Indigenous origin.

CFSC attends the meetings of the Expert Mechanism, working alongside Indigenous partners and others, to advance Indigenous peoples’ human rights.

Resources:

Statements from the July 2011 meeting of the Expert Mechanism:

• Kenneth Deer made this intervention on behalf of the North American Indigenous caucus on July 12, 2011. EMRIP – intervention Item 3
• Statement on Agenda Item 4: Expert MECHANISM Study re IPs Rt to Participate ORAL Statement ESP GCC et al July 12 11 2 (Spanish)
• Statement on Agenda Item 4, delivered by Ellen Gabriel: Expert MECHANISM Study re IPs Rt to Participate ORAL Statement GCC et al July 12 11
• Joint Statement on Agenda Item 5, delivered by Kenneth Deer:  Joint statement on implementation of UN Declaration

Statements from the July 2010 meeting of the Expert Mechanism:

• A Joint Statement at the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (July 2010)
• Joint Statement : Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) et al., “Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Participate in Decision-Making: International and Regional Processes”, Joint Statement of Indigenous and civil society organizations, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 3^nd sess., Geneva (13 July 2010).

UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The Permanent Forum is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

According to its mandate, the Permanent Forum will:

• provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through the Council
• raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system
• prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues

The Permanent Forum holds annual two-week sessions. The first meeting of the Permanent Forum was held in May 2002, and yearly sessions take place in New York.

CFSC has attended the Forum since its inception and works with partners to raise issues of concern, particularly as related to the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and human rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Resources:

Statements given at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 11th session, New York (May 2012)

• Agenda item 3 – CFSC joined the Assembly of First Nations and other partners on the Doctrine of Discovery. This statement was presented by National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo .
• Agenda item 5 – CFSC joined partners in a joint statement: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Exceeding Its Authority and Undermining Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights
• Agenda item 6 – CFSC joined with partners for a joint statement on the discussion on the rights of Indigenous peoples to food and food sovereignty
• Agenda Item 4 - Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples -  CFSC joined partners on a joint statement: Undermining Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and UN Declaration: Urgent Need for Procedural Reforms in International Organizations

 

Statements given at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Tenth session, New York (May 2011)

• Agenda Item 3(c): Free, prior and informed consent, delivered by Kenneth Deer

• Agenda Item 4(a): Implementation of the UN Declaration  on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, delivered by National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, Assembly of First Nations

• Agenda Item 4(b): Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing: Substantive and Procedural Injustices relating to Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights, delivered by Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador

• April 27, 2008 Joint statement of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Seventh Session, New York April 21 to May 2, 2008. UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Continued Opposition of the Government of Canada Undermines the International System and Violates the Will of Parliament.

• Read about CFSC members’ exper ience at the 2005 Permanent Forum in the summer 2005 issue of Quaker Concern.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

(What is a UN Special Rapporteur? Click here to find out!)

In 2001, the UN created the position of UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Human Rights Council resolution 15/14 authorizes and requests the Special Rapporteur to “examine ways and means of overcoming existing obstacles to the full and effective protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, in conformity with his/her mandate, and to identify, exchange and promote best practices“.

Additionally, the Special Rapporteur is to “gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications from all relevant sources, including Governments, indigenous people and their communities and organizations, on alleged violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms”and to “formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations.”

The Special Rapporteur also works in close cooperation with the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Professor James Anaya currently serves as the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.

Visit the Special Rapporteur’s website for more information about current work. CFSC follows the work of the Special Rapporteur and, as appropriate, engages with him/her.

Resources:

• UN Special Rapporteur reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights (April 2005)In the report of his 2004 mission to Canada, Rodolfo Stavenhagen says governments in this country must do more to close a human rights gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The United Nations Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. CFSC occasionally attends the meetings, working alongside indigenous partners and others, to advance indigenous rights.

Resources:

• Joint NGO Statement (September 14, 2007) by Amnesty International, Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), International Federation of Human Rights Leagues, International Service for Human Rights & Democracy, delivered to the UN Human Rights Council by Rachel Brett of QUNO, Geneva.
• Human rights organizations welcomed the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly (September 13, 2007).Their media release is available here.

Universal Periodic Review – UPR

“The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. As one of the main features of the Council, the UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed.

“The UPR was created through the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by resolution 60/251, which established the Human Rights Council itself. It is a cooperative process which, by 2011, will have reviewed the human rights records of every country. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists. The UPR is one of the key elements of the new Council which reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The ultimate aim of this new mechanism is to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur.” (UPR website)

CFSC works with partners in making joint submissions on Canada’s performance regarding Indigenous peoples’ human rights to the UPR as well as writing to government regarding our concerns about Canada’s performance.

Resources:

• Follow-up to Canada’s Universal Periodic Review by the Human Rights Council (March 2009) A joint letter to the Prime Minister from CFSC and our partners in follow-up to Canada’s session in February 2009. To date, the government has not genuine engagement with Aboriginal peoples and civil society during this process.
• UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (October 2008) The United Nations Human Rights Council will be evaluating Canada under the Universal Periodic Review in February 2009. As a part of the evaluation, NGOs can provide submissions. CFSC worked with Indigenous and human rights partners on this joint submission, with a focus on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• CFSC added its support to our Indigenous partners in a Joint Submission in response to “Voluntary Guidelines” the FAO has developed. The proposed guidelines have serious problems and we add our voice to the need for evaluation and improvement. States cannot use international mechanisms to evade human rights responsibilities.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

To learn more about the CBD, visit their website.

• CFSC added its support to our Indigenous partners in a Joint Submission addressing Canada’s position on the Nagoya Protocol and domestic implementation dealing with access and benefit sharing arising from use of genetic resources. We have serious concerns on how the Nagoya Protocol violates the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

• Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Calls on Canada to NOT sign the Nagoya Protocol. See the NAN resolution and  NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy’s earlier letter to federal Minister of the Environment, Peter Kent. NAN represents 49 First Nations whose traditional territories cover approximately 2/3 rds of the province of Ontario.

• The Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) undertook a Joint Submission on Nagoya Protocol FINAL – GCC et al – July 6 11 of the Nagoya Protocol. This is supported by Indigenous and human rights organizations around the globe.
• Indigenous Representatives Denounce Canada’s Obstructionist Position at COP10, Nagoya, Japan (October 21, 2010). In Nagoya, Japan, Canada has come under severe criticism in the current Convention on Biodiversity negotiations on an international regime on Access and Benefit Sharing from the use of genetic resources. Indigenous Peoples insist the ABS Protocol must take into account the significance of theDeclaration. In English and French

• A Joint Statement relating to the Convention on Biological Diversity Revised Draft Protocol. (July 6, 2010).This Statement is supported by Indigenous and civil society organizations from different regions of the world. In relation to the world’s Indigenous peoples, the current text of the Revised Draft Protocol is not consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Charter of the United Nations and other international law and standards.

• The Joint Statement on the CBD Draft Protocol and the UN Declaration (April 20 2010). The Statement is available in English and Spanish.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

In response to a request for input, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) submitted comments to WIPO regarding the participation of Indigenous peoples and respect for their human rights. The Cree document is entitled “Note on Existing Mechanisms for Participation of Observers in the Work of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore: Comments submitted by the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)”.

Other International Forums:

Organization of American States (OAS)

Oct 2011 Joint Statement in support of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group’s hearing at the Organization of American States Human Rights Commission.

This section is under construction. To learn more about the OAS itself, visit their website.