For more than two decades different UN bodies have been working on drafting a normative standard to bridge the gap in existing international human rights law with regards to the rights of indigenous peoples. This long awaited standard, with the support of the indigenous peoples worldwide, is now before the Third Committee and the General Assembly for final adoption. It is now time for each State to take action.
Many States while apparently supporting the Declaration, have suggested that further consultations on the Declaration are necessary and desirable to bring about consensus. However, since 11 years of the working group has not brought about consensus there is little reason to believe that a little more time will make a difference. Reopening the discussions now would not allow for greater consensus.
It would instead place in jeopardy this important instrument and the progress made in advancing the rights and dignity of the world’s indigenous peoples. Moreover States should also remember that important instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture were adopted by a vote.
The International Service for Human Rights calls on all States to oppose any procedural amendment delaying the process further. The text should not be reopened but adopted without change or delay, as indeed called for by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. The choice of the Third Committee is not a choice between the Declaration now or in a few months. It is a choice between a Declaration now or never. Whatever some States might say, it is clearly a choice for or against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In the minds of indigenous peoples, non governmental organisations and international public opinion, States, by voting in favour of any delays to the process, are voting against the draft Declaration and undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the Human Rights Council.
Please urgently write to the following governments or permanent representatives to the United Nations urging them to oppose any procedural amendments to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which would in effect amount to a rejection of the Declaration and undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the UN Human Rights Council as well as undermining the improvement of the world’s indigenous peoples’ human rights.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _____________,
ASIA: Call for Asian governments to ensure the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the General Assembly
I have been informed by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the International Service for Human Rights that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is currently before the Third Committee and the General Assembly for final adoption. It is vital for Asian States to support this important instrument by taking all necessary measures to ensure that it is adopted without hindrance or delay.
Many States, while apparently supporting the Declaration, have suggested that further consultations on the Declaration are necessary and desirable to bring about consensus. However, since 11 years of the working group has not brought about consensus, there is little reason to believe that a little more time will make a difference. Reopening the discussions now would not allow for greater consensus.
It would instead place in jeopardy this important instrument and the progress made in advancing the rights and dignity of the world’s indigenous peoples. Moreover, States should also remember that important instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture were adopted by a vote.
I therefore strongly urge you to take all necessary measures to ensure that your government opposes any procedural amendment that delays the process of adoption. The text should not be reopened, but adopted without change or delay, as is indeed called for by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples. The choice of the Third Committee is not a choice between the Declaration now or in a few months. It is a choice between a Declaration now or never. Whatever some States might say, it is clearly a choice for or against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In my opinion, and in the minds of indigenous peoples, non governmental organisations and international public opinion, States, by voting in favour of any delays to the process, are voting against the draft Declaration and undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the Human Rights Council. It is vital that your government clearly show its support for the rights of indigenous peoples at this crucial juncture, by ensuring that the Declaration is adopted as it currently stands and without delay.
Thank you for the attention you will give this matter,
———–
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:
1. Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed
President & Chief Adviser
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Bangabhaban, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 9568041, 7161501/A, 8311202/ 7161503/A
Fax: +880 2 9566242 or 9566593
E-mail: bangladesh@un.int
2. Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 826-1919, Telefax: (212) 826-2998
E-mail: bhutan@un.int
3. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel: +855 23 21 98 98
Fax: +855 23 36 06 66
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh, cambodia@un.int
4. Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations
350 East 35th Street, New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (212) 655-6100, Telefax: (212) 634-7626
E-mail: chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn, china@un.int
5. Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations
820 Second Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 972-3105/3106/3128, Telefax: (212) 972-3154
E-mail: dprk@un.int
6. Mr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister’s Office
Room number 152, South Block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23016857
Email: pmosb@pmo.nic.in, india@un.int
7. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudoyono
President
Republic of Indonesia
Presidential Palace
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
Jakarta Pusat 10010
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 21 3845627 ext 1003
Fax: + 62 21 231 41 38, 345 2685, 345 7782
E-mail: indonesia@un.int
8. Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 223-4300, Telefax: (212) 751-1966
E-mail: japan@un.int
9. Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations
317 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 832-2734/0095, Telefax: (212) 750-0039
E-mail: laos@un.int
10. Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations
313 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 986-6310, Telefax: (212) 490-8576
E-mail: malaysia@un.int
11. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 599-6194/6195, Telefax: (212) 661-6405
E-mail: maldives@un.int
12. Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations
6 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021
Telephone: (212) 861-9460, 472-6517, 737-3874, Telefax: (212) 861-9464
E-mail: mongolia@un.int
13. Lt-Gen. Soe Win
Prime Minister
c/o Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Yangon
MYANMAR
Tel: + 95 1 372 681
Fax: + 95 1 652 624
E-mail: myanmar@un.int
14. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
Prime Minister’s office
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu,
NEPAL
Fax: + 977 142 27286
E-mail: nepal@un.int
15. General Pervez Musharraf
President
President’s Secretariat
Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 922 1422, 4768/ 920 1893 or 1835
E-mail: pakistan@un.int
16. Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Email: corres@op.gov.ph, philippines@un.int
17. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations
335 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 439-4000, Telefax: (212) 986-1083
E-mail: korea@un.int
18. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations
231 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 826-0840/0841/0842/0843/0844, Telefax: (212) 826-2964
E-mail: singapore@un.int
19. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
C/- Office of the President
Temple Trees
150, Galle Road
Colombo 3
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657
Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk, srilanka@un.int
20. General Surayud Chulanont
Interim Prime Minister
c/o Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Tel: +662 280 1404/ 3000
Fax: +662 282 8631/ 280 1589/ 629 8213
E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th, thailand@un.int
21. Permanent Representative of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 435, New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 644-0594/0831/1564, Telefax: (212) 644-5732
E-mail: vietnam@un.int
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commissoin (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
