Canada Endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Ref. #2-3429

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, November 12, 2010 – The Government of Canada today formally endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in a manner fully consistent with Canada's Constitution and laws. Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. John McNee, met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Joseph Deiss, to advise him of Canada's official endorsement of the United Nations Declaration.

"We understand and respect the importance of this United Nations Declaration to Indigenous peoples in Canada and worldwide," said the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-status Indians. "Canada has endorsed the Declaration to further reconcile and strengthen our relationship with Aboriginal peoples in Canada."

"Canada is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Canada's active involvement abroad, coupled with its productive partnership with Aboriginal Canadians, is having a real impact in advancing indigenous rights at home and abroad."

Continues at http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/nr/s-d2010/23429-eng.asp

National American Indian Heritage Month

National American Indian Heritage Month

Overview

National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.

“National American Indian Heritage Month” had its origins in 1986 when Congress passed Pub. L. 99-471 (PDF, 93 KB) which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week of November 23-30, 1986 as “American Indian Week.” As directed by Congress, President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5577 in November 1986 proclaiming the first American Indian Week. Both law and proclamation recognized the American Indians as the first inhabitants of the lands that now constitute the United States as well as making mention of their contributions to American society:

Many of the foods we eat and the medicines and remedies we use were introduced by Indians and more than one highway follows an Indian trail. Indians make contributions in every area of endeavor and American life, and our literature and all our arts draw upon Indian themes and wisdom. Countless American Indians have served in our Armed Forces and have fought valiantly for our country.

Continued at http://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/american-indian.php

PLoS: Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Three Viewpoints

In 2008, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Paul Hunt, made a report to the UN General Assembly (11 August 2008) The Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health: Report of the Special Rapporteur, Paul Hunt. U.N. General Assembly, 63rd Session, Agenda Item 67(b). U.N. Doc. A/63/263. See, http://www.essex.ac.uk/human_rights_cent​re/research/rth/index.aspx

In September 2010, PLoS Medicine published the following Debate on drug companies and their human rights obligations.

Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Three Viewpoints

In September 2010, the PLoS Medicine Debate asks whether drug companies are living up to their human rights responsibilities. Sofia Gruskin and Zyde Raad from the Harvard School of Public Health say more assessment is needed of such responsibilities; Geralyn Ritter, Vice President of Global Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Merck & Co. argues that multiple stakeholders could do more to help States deliver the right to health; and Paul Hunt and Rajat Khosla introduce Mr. Hunt's work as the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health (2002-2008), regarding the human rights responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and access to medicines.


In their accompanying editorial, the PLoS Medicine Editors argue that drug companies should be held much more accountable for their human rights responsibilities.

Editorial

Drug Companies Should Be Held More Accountable for Their Human Rights Responsibilities

PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000344

The PLoS Medicine Debates

• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? Moving Toward Assessment
  
  Sofia Gruskin, Zyde Raad
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000310
  
  
• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? The Merck Perspective
  
  Geralyn S. Ritter
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000343
  
  
• Are Drug Companies Living Up to Their Human Rights Responsibilities? The Perspective of the Former United Nations Special Rapporteur (2002-2008)
  
  Paul Hunt, Rajat Khosla
  
  PLoS Hub for Clinical Trials, PLoS Medicine:
  Published 28 Sep 2010 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000330
  

Bridging the Divide between Genomic Science and Indigenous Peoples

Bridging the Divide between Genomic Science and Indigenous Peoples

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2010.00521.x/abstract

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Volume 38, Issue 3, pages 684–696, Fall 2010.

Bette Jacobs, Jason Roffenbender, Jeff Collmann, Kate Cherry, LeManuel Lee Bitsói, Kim Bassett, and Charles H. Evans, Jr.

The new science of genomics endeavors to chart the genomes of individuals around the world, with the dual goals of understanding the role genetic factors play in human health and solving problems of disease and disability. From the perspective of indigenous peoples and developing countries, the promises and perils of genomic science appear against a backdrop of global health disparity and political vulnerability. These conditions pose a dilemma for many communities when attempting to decide about participating in genomic research or any other biomedical research. Genomic research offers the possibility of improved technologies for managing the acute and chronic diseases that plague their members. Yet, the history of particularly biomedical research among people in indigenous and developing nations offers salient examples of unethical practice, misuse of data, and failed promises. This dilemma creates risks for communities who decide either to participate or not to participate in genomic science research. Some argue that the history of poor scientific practice justifies refusal to join genomic research projects. Others argue that disease poses such great threats to the well-being of people in indigenous communities and developing nations that not participating in genomic research risks irrevocable harm. Thus, some communities particularly among indigenous peoples have declined to participate as subjects in genomic research. At the same time, some communities have begun developing new guidelines, procedures, and practices for engaging with the scientific community that offer opportunities to bridge the gap between genomic science and indigenous and/or developing communities. Four new approaches warrant special attention and further support: consulting with local communities; negotiating the complexities of consent; training members of local communities in science and health care; and training scientists to work with indigenous communities. Implicit is a new definition of “rigorous scientific research,” one that includes both community development and scientific progress as legitimate objectives of genomic research. Innovative translational research is needed to develop practical, mutually acceptable methods for crossing the divide between genomic researchers and indigenous communities. This may mean the difference between success and failure in genomic science, and in improving health for all peoples.

Convention on Biological DIversity: DRAFT PROTOCOL: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ OBJECTIONS TO THE CURRENT TEXT

The Convention on Biological Diversity Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing, has issued the following publication:UNEP/CBD/WG-ABS/9/INF/22, Draft Protocol: Indigenous Peoples' Objections to the Current Text -- A Call for Justice and Solidarity at the request of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)

See the following links for information on the Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing:
http://www.cbd.int/abs/

http://www.unutki.org/default.php?doc_id=50

Comment on the International Bar Association's Model Mining Development Agreement

From Investment Treaty news:

In October 2009, at its annual meeting in Madrid, the Mining Law Committee of the International Bar Association launched a project to develop a Model Mining Development Agreement (MMDA). The MMDA was conceived to provide a different starting point for the negotiation of mining contracts between host governments and mining companies, one based expressly on promoting sustainable social, economic and environmental development through more equitable and transparent mining agreements.

Continued at http://www.investmenttreatynews.org/cms/news/archive/2010/09/23/the-iba-s-model-mining-development-agreement-a-new-paradigm-for-natural-resource-projects.aspx

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2010

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the sponsor for the 2010 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The theme for this year is Indigenous Filmmaking. The program will take place from 2:00 to 5:30 P.M. in New York.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

July 8, 2010

The International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be observed at the United Nations Headquarters in Conference Room 1 in the temporary North Lawn building, on Monday 9 August from 2 pm to 5 pm. It is organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The theme of the observance at UN Headquarters will be celebrating indigenous filmmaking.
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The International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be observed at the United Nations Headquarters in Conference Room 1 in the temporary North Lawn building, on Monday 9 August from 2 pm to 5 pm. It is organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in cooperation with the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. The theme of the observance at UN Headquarters will be celebrating indigenous film making.

Those who wish to attend the observance should register by Thursday 6 August, by sending an email with full name at: indigenous_un@un.org.

Please note that those who have not registered will not get a day pass, and will thus not be able to attend.

Holders of valid UN grounds passes do not need to register.

The event will begin at 2 pm. Participants must enter the UN grounds through the Visitor’s Entrance on 1st. Avenue facing 45th Street. After going through the entrance, participants should go directly to the table where SPFII staff will hand out day passes to those who have registered. Day passes will be available at the table from 1 pm until 2:15 pm. It is essential that participants bring photo ID when picking up their day passes.

The program for the day’s observance is not yet complete. It will include messages from the United Nations Secretary General, the Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs and the Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as a screening of films made by indigenous filmmakers and a Q&A session with an indigenous film maker.

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Third Session 12-16 July 2010

The Third Session is now under way in Geneva:http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/indigenous/ExpertMechanism/3rd/index.htm

The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a new United Nations mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples. This mechanism has been created by the Human Rights Council following an informal meeting on the most appropriate mechanisms to continue the work of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

The Expert Mechanism is a subsidiary expert mechanism of the Human Rights Council with a specific mandate. Composed of five experts, the Expert Mechanism will provide thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples to the Human Rights Council, the main human rights body of the United Nations. This expertise will be provided in the manner and form requested by the Council:

* The thematic expertise will focus mainly on studies and research-based advice;
* he mechanism may suggest proposals to the Council for its considerations and approval, within the scope of its work as set out by the Council.

The Expert Mechanism held its first session from 1 to 3 October 2008 at the United Nations Office in Geneva. The second session has taken place from 10 to 14 August 2009 and the third session will take place from 12 to 16 July 2010, at the United Nations Office in Geneva. Registration for the Expert Mechanism is now open and the deadline is 25 June 2010. For further information please see the accreditation page.

Finally, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been requested to provide human, technical and financial assistance to the Expert Mechanism for the effective fulfilment of its mandate. The Office can be contacted for further information.

US Review of UNDRIP through 15 July 2010

The U.S. is undertaking an official review of the U.N Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. You can comment at the address below:

The U.S. Government looks forward to hearing from all interested parties as it undertakes its review of the Declaration. The U.S. Department of State, together with other Federal agencies, will be holding consultations with federally recognized Indian tribes and meetings with interested nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders on the review of the Declaration. Exact dates and locations will be announced on this website. Anyone unable to participate in these consultations or meetings in person can send comments by email to declaration@state.gov or by mail to

S/SR Global Intergovernmental Affairs,
U.S. Department of State,
2201 C Street NW.,
Suite 1317,
Washington, DC 20520

Please send written comments by July 15, 2010 to ensure that they can be given due consideration in the review.

For discussion see, The UNDRIP. It’s time, Uncle Sam..

Minority Rights Group, State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, 2009 report

State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2009

Minority Rights Group’s flagship annual report, produced this year in
conjunction with UNICEF, is on the theme of education. State of the
World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples is an invaluable reference for
policy makers, academics, journalists and everyone who is interested in
the conditions facing minorities and indigenous peoples around the
world.

Read more:
http://www.minorityrights.org/990/state-of-the-worlds-minorities/state-of-the-
worlds-minorities.html