Some Recent articles on Indigenous Peoples:

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: A Flexible Approach to Addressing the Unique Needs of Varying Populations Viniyanka Prasad. Chicago Journal of International Law, Volume 9, Number 1, Summer 2008, p.297

LEGAL MEANS FOR PROTECTING THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN A POST-COLONIAL WORLD Jessica Myers Moran. Holy Cross Journal of Law and Public Policy, Volume 12, Number 1, 2008, p.71

Indigenous Peoples' Courts: Egalitarian Juridical Pluralism, Self-Determination, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Christopher J. Fromherz. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Volume 156, Number 5, May 2008, p.1341

Wade David on endangered cultures: a TED Talk

Wade Davis talks about the disappearance of indigenous cultures at TED:

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

Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples

On 13 Feb 2008, Hon. Kevin Rudd, M.P., the Prime Minister of Australia, presented an Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples in Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition also spoke on the same matter. See http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/ See, also, this collection of quotes on the issue: http://viv.id.au/blog/?p=1446

Forum on Minority Issues

Forum on Minority Issues Replacing the former Working Group on Minorities, the Forum on Minority Issues was established on 28 September 2007 at the 6th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) as a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on minority issues and for contributing to the work of the Independent Expert on minority issues. Its tasks will be: * To identify issues and best practices * To make recommendations on the implementation of the 1992 United Nations Minorities Declaration * To provide the Independent Expert on Minority Issues with information * To contribute to the High Commissioner's efforts of improving the co-operation among United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, Funds and Programmes on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities The Forum will be open to the participation of: * States * UN mechanisms, bodies and agencies * National human rights institutions * Academics and experts * NGOs The Forum will meet for 2 days every year. The Forum Chair will be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council in consultation with regional groups and in accordance with regional rotation. The Independent Expert on minority issues will guide the work of the Forum by recommending focus topics. She will also transmit the Forum's thematic recommendations to the HRC. It is suggested that the first meeting of the Forum should take place in September 2008. Details will follow in due course.

10th Anniversary of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Press release - 071(2008) 10th anniversary of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Statement by Ján Kubiš, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers Strasbourg, 01.02.2008 - Ján Kubiš, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic and chairman-in-office of the Committee of Ministers, said the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was an important day in the Council of Europe’s efforts to protect and promote human rights in Europe, of which the rights of persons belonging to national minorities are part and parcel. Mr. Kubiš recalled that the Convention was the first legally-binding multilateral instrument on minority protection. Continued here: http://www.coe.int/t/dc/press/WCD/AllPR_en.asp#