Discussion: Indigenous Peoples & Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Dear colleague,

Indigenous people were absent from the Millennium Declaration and have remained so throughout the Millennium Development Goals processes: according to the UN System Task Team report on the post-2015 agenda, the MDGs have not reached the poorest and most marginalized people. To ensure that inequalities are addressed in the post-2015 agenda, the Global Thematic Consultation on Addressing Inequalities (co-led by UNICEF and UN Women) is holding a series of online, moderated discussions to gather views from a broad range of stakeholders on what the post-2015 development agenda should look like.  In this context, we would like to invite you to join an online discussion on inequalities and indigenous peoples, co-moderated by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII) and experts from Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations.

The discussion is taking place from 27 November to 14 December.

To participate, please post your response in the discussion forum at www.worldwewant2015.org/node/284745. You are invited to register to the consultation here. The site is available in English, French and Spanish. You are invited to post your comments in any of the sixty languages supported by Google Translate.  If you are unable to access the site, please email your response to: inequalities@worldwewant2015.org.  

The discussion is co-moderated by Myrna Cunningham Kain, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Nilla Bernardi, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII). They will be joined by experts from Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations beginning with:

Roberto Borrero, Chair, NGO Committee on the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples; United Confederation of Taino People

Jennifer Koinante, Director, SIIWA, Kenya

To kick off the global conversation, we invite you to reflect on the following questions, among others:

1. What are the most important forms of inequalities faced by indigenous peoples? - including discussion of where and among whom these challenges occur, their severity, the evidence about them, etc.

 2. What are the major structural factors at the root of these inequalities, within and among different societies?
 3. What kinds of policies, strategies or interventions have been most successful in addressing the various inequalities experienced by indigenous peoples? And under which conditions/in which situations have particular policies, strategies or interventions had the greatest, lasting impact? (Contributors may wish to cite examples or give references to these “successes”).

 4. Based on experience, what are the most important recommendations that could be proposed in the Post-2015 Development Agenda for making a lasting and transformative impact on the different forms of inequalities faced by indigenous peoples?

 5. What actions and initiatives could be taken by different stakeholders, including civil society and indigenous peoples organizations, to bring about lasting improvements in these inequalities? And how should those who face inequalities themselves be enabled to participate in the implementation phase of the new Development Framework?
The recommendations emerging from your contributions will be incorporated into a report on ‘Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda’, to be presented at a high-level meeting in February 2013 in Copenhagen. The report will also be transmitted to the High-level Panel on Post-2015, appointed by the UN Secretary-General.

The consultation aims to be as broad and open as possible, in order to enable a multitude of voices to be heard from academia, media, indigenous peoples’ organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, private sector, governments and the UN System.  We look forward to hearing from you on how to realize the Future We Want for All.

Warm regards,
Myrna Cunningham Kain, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Nilla Bernardi, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII)

Contact: inequalities@worldwewant2015.orgDiscussion website: www.worldwewant2015.org/node/284745

Fellowship – Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2013

1) Venue of Fellowship: Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS). Address: 1889 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, United States of America
2) Modality: On-site
3) Deadline to present applications: December 15, 2012
4) Start and End Dates: February 1, to June 30, 2013
5) Length of the Fellowship: 5 months
6) Objective: To provide an opportunity for young lawyers from OAS Member States to understand and apply the mechanisms of protection of the inter-American system of human rights in the area of indigenous peoples’ rights. The Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the IACHR was created in 1990 in order to strengthen, promote and systematize the IACHR’s actions in the area of indigenous peoples’ rights in the Americas.
7) Program: To assist with tasks of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Inter-American Commission, under the supervision of its human rights specialists during the period of the fellowship and, at the end of the fellowship, present to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR a detailed report on activities carried out by the fellow.
8) Requirements:

• Be a citizen of an OAS Member State; 
• Be member of an indigenous community of the Americas;
• Spanish language proficiency (knowledge of other official OAS languages is desirable);
• Have graduated in law from an officially recognized university (attach copy of the law degree and grades obtained);
• Have received law degree after January 1, 2005;
• Have a demonstrable professional interest in the legal field of human rights, specifically in the area of indigenous peoples’ rights; and;
• Present a paper of up to five pages, not edited by another person, on a human rights issue of interest to the candidate in the area of indigenous peoples’ rights.

9) Required documents: The following documents are required in order to be considered for the fellowship:

• Letter of interest
• Completed Fellowship Application (LINK)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of law degree and grades obtained
• Written paper of up to five pages

10) Benefits:

• The IACHR provides a monthly stipend of US$3,000.00 for the period covered by the fellowship, that is US$15,000.00 total for 5 months. With the stipend provided, the fellow is responsible for obtaining health insurance coverage of his/her choosing for the duration of the fellowship, and should provide proof of coverage to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR.
• Round-trip economy class air transportation from the participant’s country of residence to Washington, D.C. Terminal and transfer expenses are not covered.
• The IACHR will award a certificate of participation in the Fellowship Program to the fellows who satisfactorily complete the entire period of the fellowship.

11) Responsibilities of the selected candidates:

• Once an applicant has been selected, he/she should formally accept the fellowship in writing, confirming with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights his/her availability to complete the fellowship during the specified time period. Once accepted, the IACHR will proceed with the necessary arrangements for purchase of round-trip economy air transportation between the candidate’s country of origin/residence and Washington, D.C.
• In the event a candidate accepts a fellowship but cannot complete it, for whatever reason, he/she must immediately inform the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights so that the course of action may be decided.
• It is the responsibility of each selected candidate to request and obtain the necessary visa to enter the United States, and/or transit visa (if applicable) in a timely manner. The IACHR will not incur in any expense related to the processing of immigration or visa documents. The IACHR will provide the candidate a document certifying his/her selection as an official fellow of the IACHR so that he/she may request the corresponding visa, which is the sole responsibility of the selected candidate. In addition, the OAS will send a diplomatic note to the Embassy or Consulate where the selected candidate will be requesting his/her visa, certifying the fellow’s selection.
• It is the responsibility of the selected candidate to arrive in a timely manner so that he/she will be present for the commencement of the fellowship on the date established by the IACHR.
• If the selected candidate declines the fellowship after the flight ticket has been purchased, or does not travel on the established dates or changes routes, the candidate shall reimburse the IACHR the cost of the flight ticket or any additional costs incurred. The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the IACHR, such as extra costs for accommodation during the candidate’s travel to and from Washington, D.C.
• If the candidate resigns, cancels or terminates the fellowship after the program has begun without providing sufficient reason and evidence to the IACHR for doing so, he/she will fully reimburse the IACHR for all costs incurred on his/her behalf.

12) Presentation of candidates:
The application and other required documents indicated in sections 8 and 9 must be submitted to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR prior to the closing date of the application period, by email, fax or mail:

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
1889 F Street, N.W. Washington, D.C., 20006 U.S.A.

cidhoea@oas.org

Telephone: 202-458-6002 Fax: 202-458-3992

Download this document in pdf format

Taíno-themed game released for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Santa Clara, CA (UCTP Taino News) - Raindrop Games has launched a new historical game entitled “Arrival: Village Kasike” for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Arrival: Village Kasike is the first game in the planed Arrival series, which focuses on the history of the indigenous Taíno peoples. Players will lead an ancient Taíno village to thriving prosperity or a struggling existence with challenges including hurricane preparation, food cultivation, village defense, and morale management, etc.  

 

Arrival: VillageKasike presents the story of Naniki, a Taíno woman, who, through fate, must lead a struggling village somewhere in the Caribbean. The iOS game was developed in collaboration with the United Confederation of Taíno People with Roberto Múkaro Borrero, President of The United Confederation of Taíno People as project’s lead consultant. Borrero reviewed the various aspects of ancient Taíno life portrayed - from clothing, farming techniques, and socio-ceremonial presentations – in an effort to provided the highest standard of accuracy in this setting. In his personal capacity as a renowned Taíno musician, Borrero also provided Taíno music and speech to create a more immersive and authentic experience.

“Before even beginning development, Raindrop Games reached out to the Confederation, and we in turned reached out to the Community – affiliated and non-affiliated - about the potential of this collaboration” stated Borrero. After outreach and consultations, the Confederation received mostly positive reactions to the project. 

 

“There were a few concerns, but the fact that we would be consulting all through development was a critical factor” noted Borrero. “The potential for introducing our ancient and contemporary culture to vast audiences using this technology was an educational opportunity that merited our attention and participation.” 

According to Raindrop games, the goal was to create engaging, entertaining, and educational game play experience were the concept of “balance” is the key to survival. 
  

Recommended devices for game play are iPhone 4 or newer, all iPads, iOS 5 or newer is required. Those interested in Arrival: Village Kasike can open iTunes to purchase and download the apps. Raindrop games also maintains a website for more information at http://www.arrivalgame.com/.

UCTPTN 11.17.2012

Fund for Gender Equality

The Fund for Gender Equality has announced the Call for Proposals for the second phase of its 2011–2012 grantmaking cycle. Proposals will be accepted for innovative programmes to help women achieve political and economic empowerment. The Fund will award multi-year grants ranging from USD 200,000 to USD 1 million.

The Fund is currently inviting proposals from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The online application database will be open from 12 to 23 March 2012 and grants will be announced in October 2012.

You will find the key documents (Call for Proposals, Concept Note, List of Eligible Countries) at the following link: http://www.unwomen.org/how-we-work/fund-for-gender-equality/application-guidelines/

OAS Fourteenth Meeting of Negotiations

The Department of International Law of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States presents its compliments and takes this opportunity to invite you to participate at the Fourteenth Meeting of Negotiations in the Quest for Points of Consensus, pursuant to operative paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution AG/RES. 2574 (XLI-O/11).

The Meeting of Negotiations will take place in Washington D.C. Individuals selected are required to be in Washington D.C. between April 16-20, 2012.

Due to time constrains and in order to ensure the effective participation of the representatives of the indigenous peoples, the Department of International Law has established as the deadline for application to participate in the Meeting of Negotiations, Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time).


In accordance with CP/RES. 951 (1691/09), which regulates “the Specific Fund to Support the Elaboration of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," indigenous communities or organizations should submit all the documents requested.

The application should be prepared by both parties, the organization and the candidate as there are requirements for both of them. Kindly note that it is the organization’s responsibility to comply with the requirements, which are filling the electronic application and submitting two documents within the deadlines established by the OAS.

The OAS will not be responsible for applications that are either incomplete or extemporaneous (such applications will be rejected).

The required documents should be sent to the Department of International Law by e-mail: dil@oas.org by Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time).

There are two mandatory documents:
- Candidate's Curriculum Vitae
- I.D., D.N.I. and/or passport (PHOTOCOPY)
The electronic application appears in the following link:
https://www.oas.org/surveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=l2K2578

Guyanese artist George Simon for Sabga award

(Trinidad Express) - Founder of the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA), Paula Lucie-Smith, has been named as one of three persons who will receive this year’s Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.

Michael Mansoor, chairman of the ANSA Caribbean Awards’ Eminent Persons Panel (EPP) selection committee, yesterday named Lucie-Smith, Prof Leonard O’Garro from St Vincent and George Simon from Guyana as this year’s laureates.

Each laureate will receive a cheque for TT$500,000, a medal and a citation at a ceremony expected to be held in early May, Mansoor said yesterday.

Mansoor made the announcements yesterday during a ceremony held at the Tatil Building, Maraval Road in Port of Spain.

Lucie-Smith’s organisation ALTA, which offers classes at 50 venues nationwide, has taken “significant steps” to tackle illiteracy in this country, Mansoor said.

O’Garro is a plant pathologist.

Archaeologist and fine artist George Simon (Lokono Arawak) “has recently made an archaeological discovery in Guyana that might cause history books about the pre-Columbian past of the Americas and world civilisation to be radically rewritten,” Mansoor said.

Source: Stabroek News

UNPFII Eleventh Session // Undécima Sesión

Pre-registration to attend the 11th Session of the Permanent Forum is now OPEN, please visit our website at http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples/UNPFIISessions/Eleventh.aspx

El pre-registro para asistir a la sesión 11 del Foro Permanente, está ABIERTO, visite el sitio web en http://social.un.org/index/indigenouses/Portada/SesionesUNPFII/UndecimaSesion.aspx