EMRIP10: Indigenous Navigator Initiative statement on Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval

10^th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
10 – 14 July 2017

Agenda 10: Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval

Statement by: Indigenous Navigator Initiative[1]

13 July 2017 (Day 4

In line with the recommendation in the draft report of the Expert Mechanism on the Ten-Year Implementation of the Declaration (A/HRC/EMRIP/2017/CRP.2) regarding the implementation of SDG to be done in full participation of indigenous peoples and for treaty bodies to consider requesting disaggregation of data and statistics to measure progress of SDGs, we recommend the Expert Mechanism to turn the attention of the Human Rights Council in acknowledging progress made in the development of community-based monitoring tools to monitor the 2030 Agenda, including the implementation of the Declaration and the WCIP Outcome Document.   We specifically recommend the Expert Mechanism to endorse the recommendation of the Permanent Forum in its 16^th Session regarding encouraging “collaboration and contributions from Governments, United Nations agencies, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations to the Indigenous Navigator framework and other tools in order to strengthen community-based monitoring of global commitments made under the Declaration, the World Conference and the Sustainable Development Goals” (Paragraph 10, E/C.19/2017/L.6), which was also endorsed earlier today by Estonia in their statement in this 4^th day of the 10^th session of EMRIP.

The need for disaggregated data is a recurring demand of indigenous peoples as it is also repeatedly recommended by the Permanent Forum in its 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 14^th and 15^th sessions and by the Special Rapporteur in her statement at the 71^st Session of the General Assembly in 2016 where she also recalled the need for disaggregated data in order to monitor development progress as mentioned in her report to the General Assembly in 2014 (A/69/267) and again in 2015 report (A/HRC/30/41).  Furthermore, it is recognized in the background note on the SDGs Indicator Framework: A Human Rights Approach to Data Disaggregation to Leave No One Behind of the OHCHR that “disaggregated statistics will be key to support tailored and evidence-based policy formulation,” as national averages tend to mask disparities and exclude the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.  This view has also been earlier noted by the Secretary-General in his Synthesis report on the Post-2015 Agenda (dated December 2014) stating “[t]he agenda itself mirrors the broader international human rights framework, including elements of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, as well as the right to development. Specific targets are set for disadvantaged groups.  Indicators will need to be broadly disaggregated across all goals and targets (Paragraph 83).

The Indigenous Navigator hopes to address the need for proper and appropriate inclusion and involvement of indigenous peoples in the implementation of the Declaration, WCIP Outcome Document and the SDG.  The Navigator is an enabling open source tool, which is available online, that can be used by indigenous peoples world-wide to gather data on the status of recognition and realization of their rights.  The Navigator tools are consistent with the OHCHR human rights monitoring framework and provide a basis for monitoring and reporting on progress in the implementation of State commitments and UN system-wide actions on the rights of indigenous peoples.

This is a collaborative initiative seeking to bring together indigenous peoples’ organizations, NGOs working in support indigenous peoples, national human rights institutions, and the ILO, with the support of the EU.  It was piloted for 2 years in 6 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and further developed based on the lessons learned, recommendations of indigenous communities and the incorporation of the WCIP Outcome Document and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

In line with this, we further recommend the Expert Mechanism to remind States their commitment to the WCIP Outcome Document regarding disaggregation of data (Paragraph 10) and urge States to strengthen their national statistics office by supporting and incorporating community-based monitoring tools such as the Indigenous Navigator, in collaboration and partnership with indigenous peoples, UN agencies and financial institutions.

Presented by: joyce godio

——————————————–

[1] Navigator Initiative Consortium: Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact – AIPP, Danish Institute of Human Rights – DIHR, Forest Peoples Programme – FPP, International Working Group on Indigenous Affairs – IWGIA, International Labour Organisation – ILO and Tebtebba Foundation

Click here to download full statement.