My take on the Informal Consultation Meeting at the UN for the outcome
of the High Level Plenary Meeting to be known as the World Conference on
Indigenous Peoples
June 2nd,
2014
By: Tai Pelli
The concept of Free, Prior, Informed Consent, has to be applied
to the High Level Plenary Meeting (HLPM) to be known as the World Conference on
Indigenous Peoples (WCIP). For one, we all know that we have ended up making
this long statement of clarification every time we refer to it, because the “World
Conference” is not a conference at all, but a High level plenary meeting.
The modalities resolution calls for the full, effective and
equal participation of Indigenous Peoples, yet, one would think they were
thinking “dance and cultural presentations only”, not actual issues pertinent
to Indigenous Peoples, and that is what has created this massive tangling and knots of chords! It seems that some states
(governments) were not prepared to hear Indigenous Peoples speak from an equal position
and that has gotten them pretty antsy. Obstacles to full, effective and equal
participation have been thrown in over and over, which of course results in
decisions that come at the last minute and that impact that same full, effective and equal participation
that should be upheld at all times. Really, if the United Nations General
Assembly does not uphold the minimum standards addressed in the UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; how in the world are we expecting
individual states to follow through with what they choose to call a “moral
obligation”, although in reality is based on many international treaties and
conventions protected under International Law?
Let’s take Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC). Picture
this: NYC, May 28th, 2014. President of the General Assembly calls
for an Informal Consultation Meeting on the outcome of the HLPM/WCIP to be held
on June 2nd, 2014, less than a week; for those traveling from real
faraway places, it is as if they already needed to have the suitcase ready and
the plane motor running! For one, internet access is not the same in every
country. Some people were expected to respond within less than 24 hours to have
their travel arrangements made. This meeting was open to all Indigenous
Peoples, etc., the truth is; how could anyone think that there would be a good global
turnout in such short notice (especially if self-funded) unless that was the
idea! When I was explained the FPIC, it involved “Time”, plenty of time. Something
we have not seen here. As a matter of fact, we have not seen much of anything
other than a perpetual procrastination of a process that in order for it to be
considered wholesome and one that provided for full, effective and equal
participation should have been given the proper time in all avenues.
Now we have the HLPM on top of us, and what we see if that
their lack of planning HAS become an Emergency for Indigenous Peoples! It
should have not been that way, and it is wrong. Today’s Informal Consultation
should have definitely been planned with way more than 6 days in advance. To
make it worse, the intentions of ending the meeting at midday, did not look
good at all. It did not show good faith, although we received an additional 42
minutes in the afternoon, after several Indigenous Leaders spoke up.
It is clear that there is NO Full, effective, equal
participation here. Indigenous Peoples from around the Globe need to be very
vigilant of this entire process. It is key that the Alta Outcome Document as
well as the Lima Declaration of the World Conference of Indigenous Women and
those issues presented by IP’s with disabilities, etc. be included in the
outcome document. We all know that if they (states) could turn back time and
oppose the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and hold off on
it , as they did for over 20 years, they would. We cannot compromise any of the
steps forward Indigenous Peoples have been able to make with great effort and
sacrifice up to this day, in a meeting
called “World Conference” that would last a day and a half!
