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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"[p]ursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, a forum on minority issues has been established to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert on minority issues. The Forum shall identify and analyze best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities."
The Human Rights Education Associates offer distance learning courses:
http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=274
