PFII May 2014 session
Agenda Item 6, World Conference on Indigenous
Peoples
U.S. Intervention, as delivered by Terri Robl
U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Economic
and Social Council
Monday, May 19, 2014
Thank you, Madame Chair.
The United States co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 65/198,
which called for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Our support for this World Conference stems
from the U.S. government’s policy to strengthen its relationship with tribal
governments and to take indigenous peoples’ perspectives into account when
formulating its broader policy objectives.
We support the resolution’s
statement that the World Conference share perspectives and best practices on
realizing the rights of indigenous peoples, including for the purpose of
pursuing the objectives of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
This is the first time that senior UN and member state
representatives will gather together with indigenous representatives at a UN
high-level meeting to consider recommendations that indigenous peoples have
presented over the years to the Permanent Forum, Expert Mechanism on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples, and other UN meetings devoted to human rights,
development, environment, and conservation issues. Indigenous peoples have proposed courses of
action, concerning economic development, health care, education, public safety,
development of natural resources, and protection of culturally significant
objects, which merit consideration.
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We were heartened by the statement of Ambassador Gregoire
this morning regarding the plans of the President of the General Assembly with
respect to the World Conference outcomes.
We stand ready to assist the PGA in support of fair and inclusive arrangements,
including for the negotiation of its outcome document, which all member states can
accept and which take into account the views of indigenous peoples. In order for the World Conference to be
successful, indigenous peoples must be able to participate meaningfully in the
preparatory process and in the Conference itself. While there are differing views on what
constitutes meaningful participation, the arrangements ultimately settled upon
must be acceptable to the broader indigenous community, as it would not be productive
to proceed with a World Conference on Indigenous Peoples if the main
stakeholders were dissatisfied.
The United States supports holding the informal interactive
hearing called for in UNGA Resolution 66/296 soon and we look forward to those
dates. The meeting’s interactive aspect
is critical, allowing participants to consider jointly how to make the World
Conference as useful as possible. The
hearing structure should allow for an inclusive exchange of views, giving member
states, elected and traditional indigenous leaders, non-governmental
organizations, civil society organizations, academics, and others the
opportunity to offer their observations.
The resolution specifies that the interactive hearing will take place by
June. Given the limited time left to
hold the hearing, some interested indigenous representatives may not be able to
travel to New York to participate in person.
We ask that the President of the General Assembly consider practical
alternative arrangements for participation.
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Regarding themes for the Conference’s three interactive
roundtable discussions and one interactive panel discussion, we understand that
indigenous peoples place priority on combatting violence against indigenous
women and girls, enhanced participation for indigenous peoples at the UN, and
repatriation of remains and sacred objects.
These are very important and relevant topics. The United States believes the following
themes also merit consideration: 1) Promoting
economic development, preventing environmental degradation, and developing
indigenous lands and resources; 2) Promoting indigenous cultures, including
through education; and 3) Promoting business opportunities for indigenous
peoples and promoting responsible business conduct.
We strongly support the resolution’s call for a concise,
action-oriented outcome document. Lengthy
documents can lack focus and risk being diluted to secure consensus. The likelihood of not gaining consensus also
increases with a document that attempts to do too much. The outcome document should recommend actions
for member states and the UN that would tangibly improve the lives of
indigenous peoples and conditions in their communities. Those steps may include work that UN bodies
can undertake on indigenous peoples’ priority concerns, and may also include
the sharing of best practices of member states on those topics. Lastly, in order for the World Conference to
meet its potential, the outcome document needs to be adopted by consensus. We look forward to discussing the substance
of the outcome document with all stakeholders and arriving at a consensus
document.
The United States has intensified its engagement with U.S.-based
indigenous representatives to invite their views on the World Conference. The
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Department of State hosted a
scoping session in March and formal U.S. consultations on May 9 with
representatives of U.S. federally recognized tribes and with other U.S.-based
indigenous peoples, groups, and organizations.
We are working on setting up additional opportunities to consult again with
U.S.-based indigenous peoples before the World Conference, possibly in July or
August.
The U.S. delegation looks forward to hearing more throughout
the day on this topic from the many stakeholders present, and I thank you for
your attention.
