Mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous
Peoples
QUESTIONNAIRE:
THE
HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT
OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Introduction
This year, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people intends to focus his
annual thematic report to the Human Rights Council on the implications of the human
rights-based approach to development in the specific context of indigenous
peoples.
In this connection, the Special Rapporteur’s study will
aim at documenting “best practices” of development initiatives that have
successfully improved indigenous peoples’ standards of living and provided
tangible benefits to their communities, with their full involvement, and in the
framework of their cultural identities.
The study of these examples is ultimately aimed at providing specific
recommendations to Governments, donors, international actors and other actors
involved in indigenous peoples’ development.
International standards relevant to development action
in the context of indigenous peoples are affirmed in the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 June
2006, the ILO Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent
Countries, and other international instruments. From the Special Rapporteur’s
perspective, these standards define an approach to development which is
participatory, sustainable and environmentally sound, and culturally
appropriate. A human rights-based
approach to development with indigenous peoples further strengthens community
life, while at the same time helping them to engage constructively with other
sectors of society and the State.
List of topics
The Special Rapporteur will be most grateful to receive
from your organization information on the following
topics:
(1)
Are you aware of any
legislation or guidelines in your country concerning development policies
targeted at indigenous peoples that take into account a human-right based
approach? To what extend are these
policies being implemented in actual terms?
(2)
A number of multilateral and
bilateral donors have adopted in recent years policy guidelines aiming at
ensuring that human rights standards are taken into account in relation to
development projects targeted at indigenous peoples. Do you have any experience
concerning how these guidelines have worked in practice?
(3)
Please provide specific
examples of successful experiences in community-led development projects in
which a human rights-based approach has been implemented in the context of
indigenous peoples.
Examples provided may be related to areas of special
interest to indigenous peoples, including land rights; environmental protection
and use; productive enterprises; health; education (including higher education);
cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible); and intellectual property.
Examples of initiatives aimed at addressing the special
needs of specific groups within indigenous communities, such as women, children
and youth, would be also very much appreciated.
While responses can be submitted in all official
languages of the United Nations, responses in English, French and Spanish, the
working languages of the Special Rapporteur, are preferable.
Kindly submit your response to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, c/o UNOG-OHCHR, Palais Wilson, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland. Responses can also be submitted electronically or via fax to Mr. Luis Rodríguez-Piñero Royo at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - lrodriguez-pinero@ohchr.org
Fax: +41-22 917 9006
Please submit your response no later than 31 August
2007.
Many thanks you for your time and
cooperation