i would like you to intentionally know that amnesty international supports indigenous women's organizations worldwide in calling for the immediate adoption by the general assembly of the long-awaited united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples...
why you ask??? well then, you should understand that such international recognition and protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples is a necessary step to address the widespread violence and discrimination faced by indigenous women and girls around the world...
recent investigations by amnesty international, including the 2007 report maze of injustice: the failure to protect indigenous women from sexual violence in the usa and the 2004 report stolen sisters: discrimination and violence against indigenous women in canada, demonstrate that the rights and well-being of indigenous women is often inseparable from the protection of the collective rights of indigenous societies as a whole...
violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous peoples tear at the fabric of indigenous communities, put indigenous women at risk of violence at the hands of both indigenous and non-indigenous men, and place them at an extreme disadvantage in seeking justice...
the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, adopted by the u.n. human rights council on 29 june 2006, provides a comprehensive framework for states and indigenous peoples to work together to protect fundamental rights pertaining to self-determination, use of lands and natural resources, livelihood and cultural identity...
and its adoption by the general assembly would reinforce its significant contribution in addressing the impoverishment, marginalisation and discrimination that have put the lives of so many Indigenous women at risk...
the declaration affirms the equality of indigenous women and men and calls for special measures to protect the human rights of Indigenous women...the declaration is explicitly to be interpreted in relation to all other international human rights instruments and the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and good faith" so that the "human rights and fundamental freedoms of all shall be respected,"...
finally, you ought to be aware that the declaration has been under development within the united nations for more than two decades...in november 2006, final adoption of the declaration by the u.n. general assembly was deferred to allow time for further consultation...it is anticipated that the declaration will come before the general assembly within a month...
so stay tuned...
for you and your children to learn more you can read:
- AI statement in support of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA
- Stolen Sisters: Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada
- Mexico: Fear for safety of ex-police officer
- International Indigenous Women's Forum, FIMI – Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indígenas, Companion Report to the UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Women – Mairin Iwanka Raya: Indigenous Women Stand against Violence (PDF)
- UN system and NGOs call for an early adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly. Chairperson of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Special Rapporteur appeal to Members States. (PDF)
- Message of Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
- The UN Secretary-General, Message on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2007
- UN pages on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2007
peace out <3
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