Thursday, May 3, 2012

UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples discusses his U.S. visit


Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
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FRIDAY at 1:00 pm
UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples discusses his U.S. visit
WASHINGTON (3 May 2012) – United Nations Special Rapporteur James Anaya will discuss his visit to examine the situation of indigenous peoples in the United States.
Date: Friday, 4 May
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Place: United Nations Conference Room
1775 K Street, NW #400
Washington, DC 20006

To RSVP or get information about participating via conference call: 202-331-8670

Adopted in 2007, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well being, and rights of indigenous peoples around the world. For more on the Declaration: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf

The Special Rapporteur, who is an independent expert, is visiting at the invitation of the U.S. Government and indigenous Nations and organizations. He will present his findings in a forthcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council.

His mission, from 23 April to 4 May 2012, was the first to the United States by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to report on the rights of the indigenous peoples. He visited Washington, D.C., Arizona, Alaska, Oregon, South Dakota and Oklahoma, holding discussions and consultations with federal and state government officials, indigenous nations and their representatives, and civil society groups on the human rights of the indigenous peoples. For more on his schedule: www.unsr.jamesanaya.org

For more information --

About James Anaya:
The UN Human Rights Council appointed S. James Anaya as Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in March 2008. Mr. Anaya is a Regents Professor and the James J. Lenoir Professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona. For more: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/rapporteur/

About UN special rapporteurs:
The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The system of Special Procedures is a central element of the United Nations human rights machinery and covers all rights: civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.

With the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Special Procedures undertake country visits (fact-finding missions); act on individual cases and concerns of a broader, structural nature by sending communications to States in which they bring alleged violations to their attention; conduct thematic studies and convene expert consultations, develop international human rights standards, engage in advocacy, raise public awareness, and provide advice and support for technical cooperation. Special Procedures report annually to the Human Rights Council; the majority of the mandates also report to the General Assembly.

The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups serve in their personal capacities and undertake to uphold independence, efficiency, competence and integrity through probity, impartiality, honesty and good faith. They are not United Nations staff members and do not receive financial remuneration. For more: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/SP/SPVisualDirectory_Accessible.pdf

About the United States’ role on the UN Human Rights Council:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/USIndex.aspx

For media inquiries:
In New York: Fred Kirungi (+1 917 367 3431 / kirungi@un.org)
In Washington: Deborah DeYoung (+1 202 454 2107 / ddeyoung@unicwash.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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