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The UN human rights system and indigenous peoples

The UN human rights system and indigenous peoples. Treaty and charter bodies. This presentation will cover:. Charter bodies Human Rights Council Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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The UN human rights system and indigenous peoples

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  1. The UN human rights system and indigenous peoples Treaty and charter bodies

  2. This presentation will cover: Charter bodies • Human Rights Council • Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples • Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous people Treaty bodies • Seven main UN human rights treaties that are of particular relevance for indigenous peoples

  3. UN Human Rights system The UN human rights system is composed primarily of two kinds of bodies: • Charter-based bodies, including the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary mechanisms and thematic mandate holder (e.g. the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People • Treaty bodies- created under the international human rights treaties and made up of independent experts mandated to monitor States parties' compliance with their treaty obligations.

  4. Charter bodies: The Human Rights Council (HRC) and its subsidiary bodies/mechanisms The HRC was established in 2006, replacing the Human Rights Commission. It is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.

  5. HRC Mandate: • Promote human rights education and learning as well as advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building; • Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights; • Make recommendations to the General Assembly for the further development of international law in the field of human rights; • Promote the full implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by States and follow-up to the goals and commitments emanating from United Nations conferences and summits; and • Undertake a Universal Periodic Review (UPR), of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments.

  6. Regular Sessions - It has 3 sessions per year (total of 10 weeks) - March (4 weeks) - Member states have 5 minutes to speak, observers have 3 minutes. Special Sessions - These are meetings focusing on one specific and/or urgent human rights situation/violation. They are held in the same way as normal sessions. - Members try to adopt resolution by consensus, if they cannot reach an agreement, they go to a vote. Functioning & Decision Making • Main action of the Council: • Pass resolutions or decisions. • Create a special procedure, by mandating an expert or a group of experts to address human rights violations.

  7. The HRC and indigenous peoples The HRC: • Adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (before it was passed to the General Assembly) • Extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples • Created the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous participation • Indigenous peoples’ organizations can attend the sessions of the Human Rights Council if their organizations have consultative status with ECOSOC or if they are accredited by such organizations. • They can also provide information through organizations that have ECOSOC status

  8. The Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples • Mandate • To provide the Human Rights Council with thematic expertise on the rights of indigenous peoples mainly through studies and research-based advice; • To suggest proposals to the HRC for its consideration and approval; and • To report annually to the HRC

  9. Working Methodology • Five independent experts meet annually for up to five days. • Determines its own methods of work, but does not adopt resolutions or decisions. • Sessions are open to the participation of observers, such as States, UN agencies, NGOs and others.

  10. The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples Established by the Commission on Human Rights in 2001. Mandate renewed by the Human Rights Council in 2007. Prof. S. James Anaya, Special Rapporteur - 2008-2011

  11. Functions: • To examine ways of overcoming obstacles to the protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and to identify, exchange and promote best practices • To gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications on alleged violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples • To formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people • To work in close cooperation with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council, relevant UN bodies, the treaty bodies, and human rights regional organizations

  12. In the fulfilment of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur: • Presents annual reports on particular topics or situations of special importance • Undertakes country visits • Exchanges information with Governments concerning alleged violations of the rights of indigenous peoples • Undertakes activities to follow-up on the recommendations included in his reports

  13. Urgent appeals In cases of imminent danger of violations of the rights of indigenous individuals and communities The intention is to ensure that the appropriate State authorities are informed as quickly as possible of the circumstances so that they can intervene or prevent human rights violations Communications • Allegation letters • If violations have already occurred or the situation is of a less urgent character and the impact on the victim can no longer change.

  14. ILO’s Contribution to the work of the Special Rapporteur • The ILO provides information on the situation of indigenous peoples in the countries that the Special Rapporteur visits, and on the various themes examined by the Rapporteur. • The ILO responds to specific country recommendations by the Special Rapporteur

  15. Human Rights Treaties & Treaty Bodies • There are seven major international human rights treaties that deal with civil and political rights, economic and social rights, racial discrimination, torture, gender discrimination, children's rights and migrant workers. • By ratifying the treaties, States subscribe to these standards and commit themselves to implementing the rights at the national level. • The treaty bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor implementation of the treaties by States parties.

  16. HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES AND THEIR SUPERVISORY BODIES

  17. Functions of the Committees • Consider the reports of states and issue Concluding Observations, which refer both to positive aspects of a State's implementation of the treaty and areas where further action needs to be taken • Consider individual complaints and communications. Depending on the treaty in question, this may be through the inquiry procedure, the examination of inter-state complaints and the examination of individual complaints. • General comments. Each of the treaty bodies publishes its interpretation of the provisions it monitors in the form of general comments (CERD and CEDAW use the term ‘general recommendations’).

  18. The Treaty Bodies and the ILO • International labour standards and UN human rights treaties are complementary and mutually-reinforcing. • The Treaty Bodies take into account international labour standards and comments made by the ILO‘s supervisory bodies, often through reports and information provided by the ILO. • In some instances, the ratification of specific ILO Conventions has been recommended (e.g. ILO Convention No. 169 by CERD). • The ILO Committee of Experts follows the work of the treaty bodies and takes their comments into consideration, particularly in the areas of child labour, forced labour and discrimination.

  19. Treaty Bodies’ Concluding Observations on Indigenous Peoples in relation to ILO Convention No. 169 • General Comment on Article 27 of the ICCPR of the Human Rights Committee states that: Culture manifests itself in many forms, including a particular way of life associated with the use of land resources, especially in the case of indigenous peoples. That right may include such traditional activities as fishing or hunting(…) • General Comment No. 23 of the Human Rights Committee stated that: “Indigenous communities must have effective participation in decisions that affect the community (...)”. And in some individual cases the Committee has also affirmed that when taking action that might infringe with indigenous peoples’ rights, states have to consult indigenous peoples • The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in its concluding observations on Colombia (paragraph 33) urged “the State party to ensure that indigenous peoples participate in decisions affecting their lives.” • CERD in its GeneralComment XXIII pointed out that States have to “ensure that members of indigenous peoples have equal rights in respect of effective participation in public life and that no decisions directly relating to their rights and interests are taken without their informed consent.” • Numerous concluding observations of the treaty bodies, in particular the CERD, have addressed indigenous issues in specific countries and recommended the ratification of ILO Convention No. 169.

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