Global Indigenous Women's Caucus
Fifteenth Session of the UNPFII - Agenda Item 4 - Implementation
of the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum with reference to UNDRIP
Honorable Chairman, on behalf of the GIWC, we would like to
congratulate you on your appointment as chair. Esteemed Members of the UN
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, distinguished representatives of
Indigenous Peoples, sisters and brothers of the world:
The Global Indigenous Women’s Caucus is committed and
actively looking for every opportunity to improve the wellbeing of our families
and peoples. This includes ensuring that our collective voice is uplifted. Many
Indigenous women’s lives are under constant threat for speaking out against
injustices. The collective voice of the Global Indigenous Women's Caucus
ensures that our indigenous sisters concerns are addressed in a manner that
does not put their lives or their families lives in danger. The GIWC welcomes
paragraph 38 of the final report for the 14th session of the UNPFII which
highlights our indigenous peoples collective rights, free prior and informed
consent and women’s participation in local, national and international
decision-making processes, therefore:
We call upon the Permanent Forum to reevaluate their
decision to dissolve Global and Regional caucus statements from the UNPFII
process and instead reinstate priority for these Caucuses to speak.
Additionally, we recommend that the Permanent Forum call on
member states to cease the criminalizing and subsequent use of police
militarization upon Indigenous Peoples and Nations, particularly Indigenous
Women, who are peacefully exercising their rights and responsibilities to
protect our lands, waters and resources. Furthermore we call for the ensured
protection of all Indigenous Peoples from harm for exercising such rights, and
call for justice for those who have been harmed or disappeared.
In accordance with the UNDRIP, we call upon the Permanent
Forum to urge the member states to review their processes to include the full
equal and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples, particularly
Indigenous Women, over decisions affecting our lands and communities,
self-determination, economic, social and cultural rights and any other matters
where Indigenous Peoples are concerned;
Our natural connection to our lands, waters and territories
and in through this sacred relationship we have a responsibility to protect our
lands. We have always maintained that we had and continue to have control and
jurisdiction over our lands, waters and resources within our territories. There
is destruction occurring on our lands and corporations are entering into our
territories unlawfully without our Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Companies are gaining access to our lands, waters and territories through state
represented organizations and are sidestepping the Original Peoples who hold
underlying title and spiritual connection to the lands. When national and
international corporations come onto our territories they do not adhere to FPIC
and ignore the environmental concerns. The GIWC continue to stand on the
principle that the provisions of the UNDRIP affirm the inherent rights of
Indigenous Peoples to participate fully in decision- making that affects us,
which contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper
management of the environment. This includes the principle of Free Prior and
Informed Consent as well as Full, equal and effective participation. Based on
these principles we submit the following.
The GIWC actively recognize and affirm President Evo
Morales’ call in 2008 for a UN Convention on Water, and further, that
Indigenous Women, fully participate in the development of that convention.
We affirm that through adherence and alignment with the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, that any initiatives related
to Water, lands and resources, must observe and recognize all articles of the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including treaty rights to for
our nations and peoples.
The GIWC welcomes a world expert study on the influence of
transnational corporations on states’ decisions and policies regarding
Indigenous Peoples’ access to and the protection from commodification or
diversion of all waters. This study shall include full and meaningful
participation of Indigenous Peoples and explore all waterways including
springs, streams, rivers, lakes, aquifers, inland seas, shorelines and the open
seas, be organized.
We Reject the Rio+20 definition of the “green economy” and
instead create a collaborative definition with Indigenous Peoples and Nations
of a “green economy” that recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ rights and does not
place forests, water, biodiversity, etc, within a culturally- destructive or
ecologically-destructive market system.
We encourage a review, with the direct participation of
Indigenous Peoples, their platforms and engagement with states and all other
parties on water regulation and the treaties, land claims and any agreements
that have been entered into with Indigenous Nations and Peoples, and that this
review should take into consideration and uphold the sanctity of water for
Indigenous Nations and Peoples. (Recalling recommendation 53 of UN Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues Session 6, 2007).
We call on the Permanent Forum to Initiate a close review
and assessment of Water allocation, regulation, and access policies and
practices that affect the rights of Indigenous Nations, the health of our
Peoples and ecosystems, and that of our future generations. This high level
meeting can explore and establish indicators of Water Wellbeing for Indigenous
Nations, and the world community. This is particularly urgent now due to the
increasing negative impacts on water due to climate change. (Recalling
recommendation 78 of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Session 7, 2008).
Lastly, We take a position against Aquacide: the killing of
the waters by dams, diversions, privatization, deprivations, extractive
industrial and mega-agricultural developments, hydrofracking, toxics and
pollution, and other ways that inhibit or preclude Water's ability to nurture
and support Life. This includes working to immediately halt the killing of our
waters by all forms of exploitation, extractive industrial development,
commodification, and other assaults that impede or assault the life giving
quality of Water.
We thank you for your full consideration of these
recommendations and look forward to continuing our collective participation as
a Caucus.
