13 September 2007

UN General Assembly to take action on Indigenous Declaration

MEDIA ADVISORY
General Assembly to Take Action on Declaration on Indigenous Rights

WHEN: Thursday 13 September, 10:00am (NOTE: Session starts at 10:00am, Declaration is Item 6 on the Agenda)

WHERE: General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters, First Avenue & 46th Street

*** A MEDIA STAKEOUT WILL BE LOCATED IN THE EAST FOYER OUTSIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DURING AND AFTER THE CONSIDERATION ***

BACKGROUND:
§ After more than two decades of fruitful dialogue at the United Nations among Member States, with extraordinary participation of indigenous peoples from around the world, the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2006. It was then forwarded to the General Assembly, which in December 2006 deferred consideration of the Declaration to allow further consultations during its 61st Session.

§ These consultations have now come to fruition and the Assembly is expected to adopt the Declaration on Thursday 13 September.

§ The Declaration addresses both individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language and others. It outlaws discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them. It also ensures their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic, social and cultural development. The Declaration explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative relations between States and Indigenous Peoples.

§ To view a recent press conference by indigenous leaders (Thursday 6 September) regarding the adoption of the Declaration, see http://www.un.org/webcast/pc2007.htm
To read the summary transcript of the press conference, see http://www.un.org//News/briefings/docs/
2007/070906_Indigenous.doc.htm
.
To view the UN news story, see http://www.un.org/apps/news/
story.asp?NewsID=23728&Cr=indigenous&Cr1


MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS: Journalists without UN accreditation who wish to attend the event should follow the instructions for obtaining accreditation at www.un.org/media/accreditation. All journalists, once accredited, who wish to film within the General Assembly Hall must report to the Office of Media Accreditation and Liaison, Room S-250A in the UN Secretariat building beforehand and an officer will escort them to the media booths.

The General Assembly session will be webcast live on www.un.org/webcast

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