Major Group: Indigenous Peoples
13th United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
22 April 2005, United Nations, New York, New York
Major Group Closing Statements
Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group) Closing Statement
Presented by:
Eugenia Juarez, Maya Indigenous Peoples, Guatemala
on behalf of the CSD 13 Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group)
Indigenous Peoples Caucus Input Group: Estebancio Castro Diaz (Panama),
International Indian Treaty Council
Mr. Chairman, many Indigenous Peoples have been and continue to be denied their water rights,
and therefore their rights to life and to development. Many States have agreements with
Indigenous Nations, some by decree and some by constitution. However, many States have
violated their agreements by allowing the construction of dams and water diversion projects
upstream from Indigenous Peoples? lands. As a result, little or no safe water reaches these
communities, which have depended on agriculture as their means of subsistence since time
immemorial. The lack of full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in decisions that
affect our communities has resulted in increasing poverty and malnutrition.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in article 12 (1) (2) states
that State Parties recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health. It states further that the steps to be taken by the State
Parties to achieve the full realization of this right shall include ?the improvement of all aspects of
environmental and industrial hygiene?.
Principle 22 of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development states ?Indigenous peoples and
their communities and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management
and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize
and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the
achievement of sustainable development?. The full and effective participation of Indigenous
Peoples is vital for all discussions relevant to their communities and interests.
For Indigenous Peoples water is central to our cultures, and to our relationship to our lands and
territories. In fact we are guided by our respect for Mother Earth when we practice our traditional
knowledge and sciences.
To maintain our spiritual relationship to our waters, we must have the right to make decisions at
all levels about water when the outcomes of those decisions affects our communities.
Governments, corporations and intergovernmental organizations must, under international human
rights standards, obtain the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples through
consultation, by culturally appropriate means, in all decision-making activitie s that affect us
regarding water, sanitation and human settlement.
Mr. Chairman, Indigenous Peoples? access to water, human settlement and sanitation services
needs to be better reflected in the text. The lack of recognition of Indigenous Peoples rights,
including our right to full and effective participation in decision-making, puts at risk our reaching
MDG 7.
Indigenous Peoples fear that culturally insensitive implementation of the market based approach
could lead to our further impoverishment and marginalization. The building of large dams often
results in involuntary displacement. In like manner, mining operations have devastating impact on
water quality, resulting in disease and the destruction of our communities.
The Indigenous Peoples? full and effective participation in the planning, development and
implementation of policies on water, sanitation and human settlement, first requires the
recognition, and support of traditional Indigenous institutions by the States. Access to basic
human needs is part of our exercise of self-determination. To the Indigenous Peoples this means
our ability to maintain and use our own institutions and to pursue our own development path
according to our own culture, values, philosophy and world-view. A rights-based approach to
water must be adopted, so that the most marginalized indigenous communities can achieve equity
and implement sustainable development in their communities.
It is well known that 80% of the world?s biodiversity is found on lands that are under the care of
Indigenous Peoples. Mr. Chairman, we will continue with our responsibilities as stewards of the
natural word and its biodiversity for all peoples and future generations.
22 April 2005, United Nations, New York, New York
Major Group Closing Statements
Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group) Closing Statement
Presented by:
Eugenia Juarez, Maya Indigenous Peoples, Guatemala
on behalf of the CSD 13 Indigenous Peoples Caucus (Major Group)
Indigenous Peoples Caucus Input Group: Estebancio Castro Diaz (Panama),
International Indian Treaty Council
Mr. Chairman, many Indigenous Peoples have been and continue to be denied their water rights,
and therefore their rights to life and to development. Many States have agreements with
Indigenous Nations, some by decree and some by constitution. However, many States have
violated their agreements by allowing the construction of dams and water diversion projects
upstream from Indigenous Peoples? lands. As a result, little or no safe water reaches these
communities, which have depended on agriculture as their means of subsistence since time
immemorial. The lack of full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in decisions that
affect our communities has resulted in increasing poverty and malnutrition.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in article 12 (1) (2) states
that State Parties recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health. It states further that the steps to be taken by the State
Parties to achieve the full realization of this right shall include ?the improvement of all aspects of
environmental and industrial hygiene?.
Principle 22 of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development states ?Indigenous peoples and
their communities and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management
and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize
and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the
achievement of sustainable development?. The full and effective participation of Indigenous
Peoples is vital for all discussions relevant to their communities and interests.
For Indigenous Peoples water is central to our cultures, and to our relationship to our lands and
territories. In fact we are guided by our respect for Mother Earth when we practice our traditional
knowledge and sciences.
To maintain our spiritual relationship to our waters, we must have the right to make decisions at
all levels about water when the outcomes of those decisions affects our communities.
Governments, corporations and intergovernmental organizations must, under international human
rights standards, obtain the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples through
consultation, by culturally appropriate means, in all decision-making activitie s that affect us
regarding water, sanitation and human settlement.
Mr. Chairman, Indigenous Peoples? access to water, human settlement and sanitation services
needs to be better reflected in the text. The lack of recognition of Indigenous Peoples rights,
including our right to full and effective participation in decision-making, puts at risk our reaching
MDG 7.
Indigenous Peoples fear that culturally insensitive implementation of the market based approach
could lead to our further impoverishment and marginalization. The building of large dams often
results in involuntary displacement. In like manner, mining operations have devastating impact on
water quality, resulting in disease and the destruction of our communities.
The Indigenous Peoples? full and effective participation in the planning, development and
implementation of policies on water, sanitation and human settlement, first requires the
recognition, and support of traditional Indigenous institutions by the States. Access to basic
human needs is part of our exercise of self-determination. To the Indigenous Peoples this means
our ability to maintain and use our own institutions and to pursue our own development path
according to our own culture, values, philosophy and world-view. A rights-based approach to
water must be adopted, so that the most marginalized indigenous communities can achieve equity
and implement sustainable development in their communities.
It is well known that 80% of the world?s biodiversity is found on lands that are under the care of
Indigenous Peoples. Mr. Chairman, we will continue with our responsibilities as stewards of the
natural word and its biodiversity for all peoples and future generations.