September 2007
| After 20 years of debates and discussion, the Declaration of Native Peoples was recently adopted by a majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations. This was above all a symbolic victory for the some 370 million indigenous people in the world. In effect, if on the one hand this Declaration constitutes a not insignificant sign recognising the existence of these peoples, on the other hand it is only that, as it has been stripped of any restrictive power at the legal level. Nevertheless it does signal progress for the indigenous peoples of Latin America, where the memory of the pre-Colombian past appears to have resurfaced on the political landscape. The only countries to have voted against the Declaration are Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand. In these countries, the centuries old battle with indigenous peoples seems set to continue for who knows how much longer. How could a text with no legal power so worry these four States, whose reputation has been tarnished by their refusal to recognize it? One might attribute this attitude to the fact that in Canada, for example, power is held at the moment by the conservative right; since its arrival in government, it has established a systematic opposition to the Declaration. The government prior to it supported it. The right-wing conservatives are banking on an electorate that opposes aid to indigenous peoples, which is seen to be costly charity and contrary to a meritocracy. Of course, it is not said in return that these minorities are excluded from the beginning from such a meritocracy, because of their condition. Yet these right wing politicians have power in three of the four States opposed to the Declaration. In New Zealand, the right makes up a strong opposition, forcing the government to rule within a coalition of parties. The recent formation of the Maori Party in this country constitutes progress in the evolution of the political landscape, however clearly this young party is not going to be able to soften the government’s position. The indigenous peoples and several of their leaders have learned over time the meaning of persistence and resistance. None of them will have the same thoughts as Chief Deskaheh, of the Iroquois League of Six Nations, who came to the League of Nations in Geneva in 1923 in order to have his people recognised as a nation at the international level. Hehad no success. However his action was admired. He was a sort of precursor to those who are able to say today that their determination demands respect. In this sense, the adoption of the Declaration is, one hopes and believes, a promising sign for the future. Sources : Text of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ONU : Déclaration sur les droits des peuples autochtones approuvée The promise of human rights « Pourquoi le gouvernement conservateur du Canada a-t-il chanté les louanges du premier ministre australien John Howard » Le Parti maori « Les Autochtones, l'autre solitude » The Aboriginals of Australia Chief Deskaheh |
This Day is celebrated on September 21. In Geneva, the association “21 septembre.ch” has the particular objective of raising general interest around this day and the Decade for Peace decreed by the UN and UNESCO.
The participants of the 5th International Congress on Education, held last July, adopted a resolution on “violations of aboriginal rights by the Australian government, which recently brought in the army in order to seize control of 64 remote aboriginal communities.” At the same Congress, the UN special Rapporteur on the right to education, Vernor Muñoz Villalobos, declared that “the fact that school fees are still charged in more than 70 countries shows that education continues to be considered as a cost and not a right.” http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=572&theme=ei&country=global
In New York, on September 14 of this year, the Secretary General of the UN inaugurated a pilot group charged with accelerating the realisation of the Millennium Objectives for Development (MOD) in Africa, as in sub-Saharan Africa there is not one country which is at the present time ready on all fronts for the target date of 2015. |
The Website, “Vision of Humanity” offers very detailed dossiers on the state of peace in the world. The references on peace activities are numerous and very instructive.
Founded in 1921, the WRI exists to promote nonviolent action against the causes of war, and to support and connect people around the world who refuse to take part in war or the preparation of war.
“Le recours à la médiation devient une des réponses créatives et économiques pour les personnes en conflit. Elles pourront ainsi explorer et construire des solutions cohérentes, sans perdant ni gagnant.”
The “Peace and Reconciliation Initiative”, an attempt to encourage peace in the face of the political impasse in Chad, has been proposed by the civil society which is aware of the necessity of contributing to the road towards peace and reconciliation in Chad.” |
A report of the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva indicates that there are 90 small arms for every 100 inhabitants in the United States, well above Yemen, with 61, and Finland, with 56.
The “Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)” and the Centre for research and intervention in educational success (CRIRES) have published a guide for the prevention and intervention against violence towards educational personnel, entitled “You are entering a non-violent zone”.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, the High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) and UNESCO are looking for collaborators with the view of publishing a compendium of good practices concerning human rights education in schools.
A recent study carried out by the ILO shows that not only are children still being forced to work in mines, but also that many of them are girls. The work is entitled “Out of Sight, Girls in Mines”. |
The University Centre for International Humanitarian Law, based in Geneva, aims to provide instruction at a high academic standard in both English and French, to conduct and promote academic research, organise professional courses and expert meetings, and provide legal expertise to the local, national or international community. |