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The following is a UN resolution, adopted
in April 1998, in regard to indigenous populations, which includes
the Amazigh of North Africa.
1. Takes note of the report of the Sub-Commission on Prevention
of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on its forty-ninth
session (E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/ 1997/50) and of the report
of the Working Group on
its fifteenth session (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/14);
2. Urges the Working Group to continue its comprehensive review
of developments and of the diverse situations and aspirations
of the world's indigenous people, and welcomes its proposal to
highlight specific themes of the International Decade of the World's
Indigenous People at its future sessions, including giving priority
at its sixteenth session to the theme of education and language;
3. Invites the Working Group to take into account in its deliberations
on developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of
the human rights of indigenous people the work, within the framework
of their respective mandates, of all thematic special rapporteurs,
special representatives, independent experts, working groups and
expert seminars as it pertains to the situation of indigenous
people;
4. Recommends to the Economic and Social Council that the Working
Group be authorized to meet for five working days prior to the
fiftieth session of the Sub-Commission;
5. Invites the Working Group to continue its consideration of
ways in which the expertise of indigenous people can contribute
to the work of the Working Group, and encourages initiatives by
Governments, organizations of indigenous people and non-governmental
organizations to ensure the full participation of indigenous people
in the activities related to the tasks of the Working Group;
6. Requests the Secretary-General:
(a) To provide adequate resources and assistance to the Working
Group in the discharge of its tasks, including adequate dissemination
of information about the activities of the Working Group to Governments,
specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and organizations
of indigenous people, in order to encourage the widest possible
participation in its work;
(b) To transmit the reports of the Working Group to Governments,
organizations of indigenous people and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, as soon as possible, for specific comments and
suggestions;
7. Appeals to all Governments, organizations and individuals in
a position to do so to consider contributing to the United Nations
Voluntary Fund for
Indigenous Populations;
II International Decade of the World's Indigenous People
8. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (E/CN.4/1998/107);
9. Invites the Working Group on Indigenous Populations to continue
its review of activities undertaken during the International Decade
of the World's Indigenous People, and encourages Governments and
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide
information on the implementation of the goals of the Decade,
in accordance with paragraph 16 of the annex to General Assembly
resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995;
10. Welcomes the affirmation by the General Assembly that a major
objective of the Decade is the adoption of a declaration on the
rights of indigenous people and its recognition that among the
important objectives of the Decade is the consideration of the
possible establishment of a permanent forum for indigenous people
in the United Nations system;
11. Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to consider
organizing, taking into account the United Nations Decade for
Human Rights Education and the priority to be given, including
to education and language, at the sixteenth session of the Working
Group on Indigenous Populations, and recognizing the importance
of strengthening the capacity of indigenous people to develop
their own solutions to their problems, a workshop for research
and higher education institutions focusing on indigenous issues
in education, to improve exchange of information between such
institutions and to encourage future cooperation, in consultation
with indigenous people and in collaboration with the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant
United Nations bodies;
12. Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her capacity
as coordinator of the Decade, to submit an updated annual report
reviewing activities within the United Nations system under the
programme of activities for the Decade to the Commission on Human
Rights at its fifty-fifth session under the agenda item entitled
"Indigenous issues", in accordance with the request
by the General Assembly to the Secretary-General;
13. Emphasizes the important role of international cooperation
in promoting the goals and activities of the Decade and the rights,
well-being and sustainable
development of indigenous people;
14. Encourages Governments to support the Decade by contributing
to the Voluntary Fund for the Decade;
15. Also encourages Governments, as appropriate, recognizing the
importance of action at the national level for the implementation
of the goals and activities of the Decade, to support the Decade,
in consultation with indigenous people, by:
(a) Preparing relevant programmes, plans and reports in relation
to the Decade and establishing national committees or other mechanisms
involving indigenous people to ensure that the objectives and
activities of the Decade are planned and implemented on the basis
of full partnership with indigenous people;
(b) Seeking means of giving indigenous people greater responsibility
for their own affairs and an effective voice in decisions on matters
which affect them;
(c) Identifying resources for activities designed to implement
the goals of the Decade;
16. Appeals to intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
to support the Decade by identifying resources for activities
designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation
with indigenous people;
17. Encourages Governments to consider contributing, as appropriate,
in support of the achievement of the goals of the Decade, to the
Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America
and the Caribbean;
18. Recommends that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, when
developing programmes within the framework of the International
Decade of the World's Indigenous People and the United Nations
Decade for Human Rights Education,
give due regard to the development of human rights training for
indigenous people;
19. Encourages the High Commissioner for Human Rights to cooperate
with the Department of Public Information in preparing and disseminating
information on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous
People, taking due care to portray accurately the information
regarding indigenous people;
20. Invites the United Nations financial and development institutions,
operational programmes and specialized agencies, in accordance
with the existing procedure of their governing bodies:
(a) To give increased priority and resources to improving the
conditions of indigenous people, with particular emphasis on the
needs of these people in developing countries, including through
the preparation of specific programmes of action for the implementation
of the goals of the Decade, within their areas of competence;
(b) To launch special projects, through appropriate channels and
in collaboration with indigenous people, for strengthening their
community-level initiatives, and to facilitate the exchange of
information and expertise among indigenous people and other relevant
experts;
(c) To designate focal points or other mechanisms for coordination
with the High Commissioner for Human Rights of activities relating
to the Decade;
21. Decides to consider the International Decade of the World's
Indigenous People at its fifty-fifth session under the agenda
item entitled "Indigenous issues".
38th meeting 9 April 1998
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XXIII.]
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