Argentina using DNA testing to identify the "Disappeared".

From the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/24/argentina.genetics

Argentina is appealing to relatives of the "Disappeared" from the time of the "Dirty War" to give blood samples to be used in identifying 600+ human remains.

21 March is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Link to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights page: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/events/racism/ and to the Dag Hammarskjold Library page: http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/racial

UNDG Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples Issues

From the February 2008 UN OHCHR Update on Minority Issues "The United Nations Development Group approved Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples' Issues on 1 February 2008. The Guidelines are designed to assist UN Country Teams integrate indigenous peoples' issues into country policies and programmes. The Guidelines were drafted by a group on UN organizations and specialized agencies under the aegis of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples'Issues." The text is available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/docs/guidelines.pdf

10 anniversary of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

On March 11, the Council of Europe opened a Conference on the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The program of the conference is here: http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/minorities/1._GENERAL_PRESENTATION/ PDF_Programme%20conference%20%20E%20080305.pdf Further information is here on the website of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention: http://www.coe.int/T/E/Human_Rights/Minorities/ The website for the COE Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is located here: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/Default_en.asp

Response of CERD to US Reports on treatment of Indigenous Peoples by USA

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has issued it's report on the review of the reports of the USA on the treatment of indigenous peoples within the US and it's territories. The report criticizes the US on several issues; lack of consultation with indigenous groups, interpretation of "racial discrimination"; physical violence against indigenous women; and treatment of sacred sites, etc. It refers to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a doc the US needs to use as a guideline. The report is here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/co/CERD-C-USA-CO-6.pdf A consolidated Shadow Report by US indigenous groups is available here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/ngos/usa/USHRN8.doc and the International Indian Treaty Council has issued a press release here: http://www.treatycouncil.org/PDFs/PressReleaseCERDfinal30808%20_2_.pdf