EMRIP11: Statement of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus on Agenda Item 11: Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval

11^th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
9 – 13 July 2018
Agenda Item 11: Proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for its consideration and approval
Statement of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus
Presented by: joyce godio

On behalf of the Asia Caucus, we would like to put forward the following proposals to be submitted to the Human Rights Council (HRC), to urge Member-States:

• to ensure a political environment that is conducive for constructive dialogue with indigenous peoples and for the full implementation of UNDRIP and, in particular, among others things:
• review overlapping and contradictory laws that are being used to criminalize indigenous peoples.
• provide allocation of dedicated resources by governments to programmes and plans, e.g. culturally-specific and -senstive programmes, like mother-tongue based education
• to invite EMRIP for country visits in the spirit of mutual learning on the concerns of indigenous peoples to engage in constructive dialogues at the national level, particularly to Member-States that claim “all their people are indigenous peoples”. Further, we encourage States to further utilise the expertise of the Expert Mechanism in developing policies, laws and national action plans that are responsive to indigenous peoples’ issues.
• To review and address the conflicts emerging from development aggression, including social development programmes that have caused damage to their culture, tradition and customs. It should provide restitution and redress to indigenous peoples affected without proper implementation of FPIC.

Click here to download full statement.