Major Group: Indigenous Peoples
Statement of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda January 21, 2015, Delivered by Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taino), International Indian Treaty Council
Check Against Delivery
Excellencies, representatives of UN agencies, Major Groups and other stakeholders,
On behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG), we thank you for this opportunity to share our views in this discussion.
The near “invisibility” of Indigenous Peoples in the current draft of the SDGs poses a serious risk of repeating our negative experiences in previous national development processes and specifically the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).
The Post 2015 Development Agenda should not promote further marginalization of Indigenous Peoples, but rather seize this unique opportunity to remedy past shortcomings and historical injustices based on inequalities.
Related to the issue of “invisibility” is the concept of “Universality vs Diversity”, which was a point of contention throughout the OWG process. Embracing this concept led to use of the term “vulnerable groups” to encompass Indigenous Peoples in the SDGs, a trend which fails to recognize our distinct cultural identities and political status as rights-holders and agents of change.
Moreover, States committed to recognizing the special situation of Indigenous Peoples in the outcome document of recent World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, where paragraph 37 affirms “...indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In this regard, we commit ourselves to
We remain very appreciative of the work of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals co-chairs and the support of some States, however, we are disappointed that the outcome document adopted
by the OWG mentions “Indigenous Peoples” only twice.
giving due consideration to all the rights of indigenous peoples in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda”.
Within this framework and working on the basis of the OWG outcome document, the IPMG has developed a position paper and identified critical themes, targets and indicators for inclusion in the SDGs/Post-2015 Development Agenda. The IPMG has clustered our concerns within six main areas: The need for disaggregation of data; rights to lands, territories and resources; Free Prior and Informed Consent; special measures that include health, education, etc.; access to justice and redress mechanisms; and participation and representation in decision-making in relevant bodies.
Moving forward in this process, the development of indicators, national policies, monitoring and evaluation remain critical entry points for the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in the post-2015 Development Agenda.
The IPMG welcomes Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Synthesis Report and in particular, his action-oriented suggestion that “Member States may decide to task the United Nations System, in consultation with other relevant experts and through a multi-stakeholder dialogue, to develop a draft set of indicators” (para 139). The IPMG is concerned, however, with the lack of clarity over what UN agencies/experts will be involved in the development of indicators and the associated time frame.
In closing, the IPMG recommends that these negotiations and related processes ensure Indigenous Peoples meaningful participation and access to the mechanisms tasked with the development of indicators, national policies, monitoring and evaluation.
We have already developed and look forward to sharing our work on indicators specifically relevant to Indigenous Peoples who need to be viewed as essential actors, partners, and key constituencies in this process and beyond.
Thank you.
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda January 21, 2015, Delivered by Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taino), International Indian Treaty Council
Check Against Delivery
Excellencies, representatives of UN agencies, Major Groups and other stakeholders,
On behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG), we thank you for this opportunity to share our views in this discussion.
The near “invisibility” of Indigenous Peoples in the current draft of the SDGs poses a serious risk of repeating our negative experiences in previous national development processes and specifically the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs).
The Post 2015 Development Agenda should not promote further marginalization of Indigenous Peoples, but rather seize this unique opportunity to remedy past shortcomings and historical injustices based on inequalities.
Related to the issue of “invisibility” is the concept of “Universality vs Diversity”, which was a point of contention throughout the OWG process. Embracing this concept led to use of the term “vulnerable groups” to encompass Indigenous Peoples in the SDGs, a trend which fails to recognize our distinct cultural identities and political status as rights-holders and agents of change.
Moreover, States committed to recognizing the special situation of Indigenous Peoples in the outcome document of recent World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, where paragraph 37 affirms “...indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In this regard, we commit ourselves to
We remain very appreciative of the work of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals co-chairs and the support of some States, however, we are disappointed that the outcome document adopted
by the OWG mentions “Indigenous Peoples” only twice.
giving due consideration to all the rights of indigenous peoples in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda”.
Within this framework and working on the basis of the OWG outcome document, the IPMG has developed a position paper and identified critical themes, targets and indicators for inclusion in the SDGs/Post-2015 Development Agenda. The IPMG has clustered our concerns within six main areas: The need for disaggregation of data; rights to lands, territories and resources; Free Prior and Informed Consent; special measures that include health, education, etc.; access to justice and redress mechanisms; and participation and representation in decision-making in relevant bodies.
Moving forward in this process, the development of indicators, national policies, monitoring and evaluation remain critical entry points for the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in the post-2015 Development Agenda.
The IPMG welcomes Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Synthesis Report and in particular, his action-oriented suggestion that “Member States may decide to task the United Nations System, in consultation with other relevant experts and through a multi-stakeholder dialogue, to develop a draft set of indicators” (para 139). The IPMG is concerned, however, with the lack of clarity over what UN agencies/experts will be involved in the development of indicators and the associated time frame.
In closing, the IPMG recommends that these negotiations and related processes ensure Indigenous Peoples meaningful participation and access to the mechanisms tasked with the development of indicators, national policies, monitoring and evaluation.
We have already developed and look forward to sharing our work on indicators specifically relevant to Indigenous Peoples who need to be viewed as essential actors, partners, and key constituencies in this process and beyond.
Thank you.