Indigenous Leaders from Around the World Meet at COP21 in Paris

Kayapo Chief Raoni Metuktire of Brazil and Kasike Roberto Mukaro Borrero,
President of the United Confederation of Taino People meet in Paris.

Paris, France (UCTP Taino News) - About 250 indigenous leaders who engaged in a series of unprecedented consultations in the Arctic, North America, Asia, Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Africa finalized their proposals to COP21 on Monday. The delegates are now actively lobbying governments to include the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the COP21 agreement. The indigenous leaders are also calling on countries to adopt a goal of keeping the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming with the view of further lowering it to one degree Celsius. According to experts, the disastrous and possibly irreversible tipping point of climate change is 2°C. Among this historic and diverse gathering of indigenous leadership are Chief Damon Corrie of the Caribbean Amerindian Development Organization (CADO) and Kasike Roberto Mukaro Agueibana Borrero, President of the United Confederation of Taino People. 

UCTPTN 11.30.2015

Conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding and promotion of durable peace, rule of law and governance

Co-chairs' meeting with representatives of Major Groups and other stakeholders

Conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding and promotion of durable peace, rule of law and governance, 02/07/2014

Submitted by Roberto Múkaro Borrero (Taíno), International Indian Treaty Council

Thank you honorable co-Chairs.

Let me begin by noting that during previous sessions, the Indigenous Peoples Major Group addressed the broader theme of governance and those statements are available at the Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. Our presentation today will therefore focus more specifically on the rule of law, which is certainly not an abstract concept to the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

The rule of law and human rights do matter to Indigenous Peoples; affirming and implementing these legal and conceptual frameworks are among the reasons why we engage with the UN system and the States. 

Indeed, the Indigenous Peoples Major Group takes note of the Secretary-General’s Report on ‘Delivering Justice’ where he states: “The rule of law is a core principle of governance that ensures justice and fairness, values which are essential to our humanity”.[i]

From an indigenous perspective, justice and fairness, along with other key themes such as durable peace, human rights, security, accountability and sustainable development, cannot be promoted in isolation or at the expense of Indigenous Peoples. With justice, fairness, and the rule of law based in the human rights framework, there is much that can and must be done to ensure the voices, interests, and concerns of Indigenous Peoples are included in the post-2015 development agenda.

Honorable Co-Chairs, we are aware that all 193 United Nations Member States endorsed the idea that the rule of law and development are mutually reinforcing.  Additionally, States affirmed that this interrelationship should be considered in the post-2015 development agenda.[ii] Moreover, there already seems to be a broad consensus that the post-2015 agenda needs to move forward with sustainable development at its core and the eradication of poverty as its top priority.  Indigenous Peoples, however, are well aware that poverty will not be alleviated without respect for rights, justice and fairness.

Based on this reality, and to better address inequalities faced by Indigenous Peoples, it is essential that the advancement of the rule of law at the national and international levels be clearly articulated as a priority in this new agenda. There is a need for Governments, for instance on the country-level, to strengthen their regulatory systems with strong, yet adaptable legal frameworks that not only take into account of the special situations and legal frameworks of Indigenous Peoples, but that conform fully with internationally accepted human rights standards and resulting legal obligations and commitments.

In this context, the rule of law as defined by the Secretary General forms a critical point of reference for the empowerment and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups in the post-2015 agenda.[iii]  While the OWG process is considering the linkages between the rule of law and sustainable development, there are a number of challenges and issues relevant to Indigenous Peoples that should be taken into consideration. These include, but are not limited, to: Treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and Indigenous Peoples; engagement with indigenous legal and justice systems; Constitution-making; institution-building; participatory mechanisms for conflict resolution; and meaningful and effective participation in processes aimed at strengthening the rule of law. Fortunately, there are mechanisms that can guide States and the United Nations System toward meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples in these areas.

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, for instance, builds on existing human rights standards, many of which represent established, legally-binding obligations of States, and applies these standards to the specific needs and circumstances of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration sets out minimum standards for the “survival, dignity and well-being” of Indigenous peoples around the world as well as participatory frameworks for resolution of conflicts.[iv]

The Rio+ 20 Outcome Document stressed the importance of the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the achievement of sustainable development. It also recognizes the importance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of global, regional, national, and sub-national implementation of sustainable development strategies.

In closing, the Indigenous Peoples major group affirms that the rule of law is a principle of governance that promotes justice, fairness, and accountability.  We call upon the OWG co-chairs to ensure that the culmination of this process includes a clear message that implementation by States of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other human rights standards including the Human Rights Covenants and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination should be regarded as political, moral and legal imperatives without qualification. 

Hahom/Thank you.

---

[i] “Delivering justice: programme of action to strengthen the rule of law at the national and international levels”, 16 March 2012, A/66/749, paragraph 1.

[ii] See http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/dsgsm721.doc.htm

[iii] The Secretary-General defines the rule of law as “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It requires, as well, measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency." (Report of the Secretary-General: The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies” (2004))



[iv] There are other mechanisms that should be highlighted in this context such as the CERD, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ILO Convention 169, etc. 

Originally posted at: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1680

UCTP submission to UNPFII under Item 8: Future work of the Permanent Forum, including matters of the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Item 8: Future work of the Permanent Forum,
including matters of the Economic and Social Council and emerging issues
Wednesday, 29 May, 2013

Submission by the United Confederation of Taíno People (Caribbean Regional)
Presented by Roberto Mukaro Borrero

Takahi kena hahom. Greetings and thank you Mr. Chair:

The United Confederation of Taíno People is a regional initiative representing Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean Islands. We have participated at every session of the UNPFII seeking to raise the visibility and promote a better understanding of the situations of Indigenous Peoples from this region, which is connected to Latin America in these proceedings.

Indeed, while the term Latin America and the Caribbean is promoted at various levels throughout the Permanent Forum sessions, as well as throughout the United Nations system, the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean is unfortunately a rarity rather than the norm.

On the unusual occasion when Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous islanders in particular, are highlighted within the system, there has been very little action on the part of U.N agencies or governments to engage in meaningful dialog or follow-up.

For example, the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, under Item 6 Social and economic development, section b-85 states, and I quote:

“ It is recommended that representatives of Caribbean indigenous peoples should be included in region-specific consultations and conferences in Latin America and the Caribbean, and on steering committees for planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Second International Decade. Serious consideration should also be given to organizing a special regional consultative session focusing on the unique situation of Caribbean indigenous peoples, which would take place in the Caribbean, hosted by a Member State and a local indigenous community.”

Mr. Chair, to date there has been no such meeting and we are now nearing the close of the second Decade.

With this in mind, the United Confederation of Taíno People recommends that the Permanent Forum:
1.) Call on the Inter-Agency Support Group and Governments to support a regional consultative meeting on the situation of Caribbean Indigenous including Indigenous Peoples of non-self governing territories and unincorporated territories in the region, without discrimination.

 2.) In cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, organize and hold an expert group meeting on the situation of Indigenous Peoples of non-self governing territories and unincorporated territories in 2014 and report on said meeting at its 13th session.

Hahom (thank you).

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

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