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	International Human Rights Day press releases Human Rights Day would have been celebrated - PFII UN's human rights record challenged AOS caucus calls for progress on self-determination Caucus appeals to Russian President General Assembly missed opportunity - Stavenhagen IPACC quotes African Charter on Rights Namibia slammed for killing UN rights resolution Civil society organisations condemn delay on Declaration UNGA fails to bring hope to Indigenous Peoples Tonatierra defends right of self-determination Defenders of human rights must support indigenous rights States are acting irresponsibly - NWAC Canada accused of disgraceful, disgusting conduct at UN ILRC continue fight to adopt Declaration Africa denies Saami and Inuit rights to self-determination Third Committee defers action on indigenous declaration Key UN committee delays action on declaration download the press kit on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples	General Assembly President, HE Madame Sheika Heya Rashed Al Khalifa, receives greetings from Indigenous delegate, Jose Carlos Morales. The President listened to requests that the Indigenous Peoples be acknowledged in the General Assembly when the Declaration is formally adopted. USEFUL LINKS for more information on the Declaration Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Documentation Centre for Indigenous Peoples Tebtebba Foundation International Indian Treaty Council American Indian Law Alliance International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs Rights and Democracy Amnesty International, Canada University of Minnesota Human Rights Library MEDIA KIT (Download Kit) Letter to States by Special Rapporteur & Chair of PFII Letter to States by Indigenous Peoples Caucus Letter to States by Ambassadors to UN Ten Key Points Declaration (download) How States voted in the Human Rights Council UN PRESS CONFERENCE 13 October 2006 View Webcast Video - 42 minutes This media conference occurred at the UN on 13 October 2006 to discuss the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including its history, significance and current status. H.E. Mr Enrique Berruga, Permanent Representative of Mexico; Mr Aqqaluk Lynge Chairperson Innuit Circumpolar Conference Mr Kent Lebsock Executive Director American Indian Law Alliance Ms Elsa Stamatopoulou Chief, Secretariat, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues;
VICTORIA TAULI-CORPUZ CHAIRPERSON OF THE UNITED NATIONS PERMANENT FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 10 December 2006 Indigenous peoples would have joyfully celebrated the International Human Rights Day this year if the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly before the end of 2006. Unfortunately, the decision of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on November 28th, 2006, to defer the adoption of the Declaration has weakened the meaning of this day. At the Fifth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues the shared expectation of indigenous peoples, of the UN system and of the Permanent Forum was for the adoption of the Declaration by the General Assembly, as had also been the call of Heads of State at the World Summit in 2005. The Permanent Forum thus adopted the following recommendation at its session in May 2006: The Permanent Forum is convinced that a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples will be an instrument of great value through which to advance the rights and aspirations of the world’s indigenous peoples. The Permanent Forum therefore recommends the adoption without amendments of the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples … by the General Assembly during its sixty-first session in 2006. This would represent a major achievement for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. To the credit of the newly established Human Rights Council, it adopted this Declaration in June 29, 2006, at its First Session. All the regional caucuses of indigenous peoples spoke with one voice and echoed the resolution of the Human Rights Council that this be adopted by the General Assembly at its 2006 Fall Session. Indigenous peoples were shocked and deeply disappointed at the recent decision of the Third Committee of the General Assembly to defer the adoption, following an initiative of some Members States. I am also deeply disappointed by this move to defer the adoption of the Declaration because this is illustrative of the continuing discrimination against indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. The Declaration stands out as one of the most extensively discussed and negotiated texts in the history of the UN with the full participation of the subjects of those rights—a process for which the international community should stand proud. The non-participation of some Governments in more than 20 years of drafting and negotiations on the Declaration does not justify a further delay of its adoption. This Declaration represents the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples. I commend the Member States who voted for the adoption of the Declaration at the Human Rights Council and those who did not support the deferral of its adoption at the General Assembly Third Committee. I urge all Governments to demonstrate that the UN stands for human rights for all, including indigenous peoples, and to adopt the Declaration without amendments. It is the responsibility of all UN Member States to address the past and continuing injustice, racism and discrimination against indigenous peoples. International Human Rights Day will be more significant for indigenous peoples once the UN adopts the Declaration and continues building genuine partnerships and solidarity with indigenous peoples.