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Moving Forward: Perspectives on the 10th Anniversary of UNDRIP


September 13th, 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This document represents an important benchmark for the international community's progress towards recommending and fully implementing the rights of Indigenous communities. However, as Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, Ms. Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine, the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples acknowledged in a joint statement, "we need to acknowledge the vast challenges that remain. In too many cases, Indigenous peoples are now facing even greater struggles and rights violations than they did ten years ago."

Our 4 newest radio programs, listed below, examine the strengths and limitations of international regulations in the implementation of various aspects of Indigenous communities' rights. As always, our programs are free for you to listen to, download, and broadcast.
Michelle Cook (Dine') answers our questions about how justice systems within Indigenous communities interact with those of the nation-states within which they often exist, and how these systems operate differently and with different basic assumptions. 
 
Repatriation of Sacred Objects and Remains
When we visit museum exhibits and learn about the history of ancient civilizations and present cultures of Indigenous Peoples, there is an important side of the story that is invisible. This is the other side of the story, a story of stolen artifacts, ceremonial objects, and human remains.  
 
International World Indigenous Peoples Day 2017
In light of the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, leaders use the International World Indigenous Peoples Day to reflect on progress and setbacks of implementing the high goals set by the declaration. 
 
Indigenous Peoples Day In Nepal
In Nepal, Indigenous people organized rallies, events, and gatherings in the capital to mark International World Indigenous Peoples' Day on August 9th. The Prime Minister responded to these demonstrations by promising the full resources of the state in backing the rights of Indigenous communities throughout the country. IRR Producer Dev Kumar Sunuwar contextualizes the events of August 9th, 2017 within the recent history of Nepal's progress in implementing the rights of Indigenous communities.