The third meeting to create an American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples convened in April at the Organization of American States (OAS).
Representatives from OAS member states, indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-governmental organizations, students, scholars, and experts gathered for the Working Group meeting from April 28 to April 30 in Washington, D.C. The declaration aims to identify the collective rights and distinctive needs of indigenous peoples in the Americas. Representatives attending the session discussed issues affecting indigenous peoples of the Americas, including cultural identity, organizational and political rights, and social, economic, and property rights. A final declaration will set the standards for policy-making concerning indigenous peoples in the 35 independent member nations of the OAS.
"The declaration is important because it lays down the philosophy on indigenous peoples’ rights to be respected by the international community," explains Sandeep Kindo, coordinator of the Cultural Survival Law Initiative. "It will sensitize governments to the peculiar rights of indigenous peoples. "
Formed in 1948, the main objective of the OAS is to encourage cooperation between member states on advancing democracy and human rights, promoting peace and security, expanding trade, and combating poverty, drug trafficking, and corruption. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was first proposed in 1989 in the OAS General Assembly. Working Group sessions began in 1999 to draft the declaration and promote dialogue between member states and indigenous peoples’ representatives. These sessions have been complemented by Indigenous Caucus meetings attended by indigenous representatives from each of the 35 states.
The Cultural Survival Law Initiative provided legal research to support the Indigenous Caucus by examining the language of an article that addresses indigenous relocation. Kindo collaborated with Harvard University law and anthropology students on this research.
