Presentation on the publication 'Indigenous World 2002-2003',
Organised by International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs.

For the 19th publication of the Indigenous World 2002-2003, Jens Dahl, the Director of International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), gave a brief presentation of the book saying that it was a 'major accomplishment.'

The book is a general overview of the state of affairs of indigenous peoples around the world. It is distributed freely to around 1,500 NGOs and Indigenous Organisations around the world with the funding of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. To coincide with the release, two representatives of Indigenous Organisation were present at the meeting.

One of the main problems faced by such organisations (outlined Joseph Ole Simel of Mainyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organization [MPIDO]) is that groups like Kenya's Maasai are not well defined. It is only in a recent and comprehensive Working Group Report that ameliorated this issue and gave people like him a 'window of hope' to defend indigenous peoples' rights. Mr. Simel, however, added that challenges remain, such as the dilemma of approving the report, which would place certain African governments in a precarious situation with regards to human rights violations. He went on to conclude that African indigenous organisations needed better organisation and structure in order to promote their causes, as seen in Canada and Australia.

Further obstacles faced by such organisations in 2003, noted Victoria Tauli-Corpuz of the Philippines-based Tebtebba Foundation, is that despite passing laws protecting indigenous peoples' rights, little progress develops (as is the case of the Philippines). Highlighting the need to clarify UN mechanisms would gain greater awareness for the plight and would prevent further human rights violations by their governments. The Special Rapporteur Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen, for example, held an official visit to the Philippines in December 2002 and presented his report in March 2003. This allowed him to see the reality of the situation in indigenous communities which face battles against foreign mining companies that are eager to exploit their land and given permission to engage in such projects by their government.

This development creates an atmosphere of optimism for such oppressed peoples. The Special Rapporteur will be visiting Mexico and Colombia soon, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz concluded, so that problems faced by indigenous peoples have 'a bigger chance of being resolved in a more peaceful and sustainable manner.'

By: Clement Therme and James Gasteen

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