American Indian and Canadian Native leaders were among the 1,009 people arrested on September 2, 2011 in front of the White House while protesting the construction of a controversial 1,700 mile Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The protesters were warning about the environmental and health risks and were asking President Obama not to issue a permit for the construction of the pipeline.
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples released his annual report on his communications with governments concerning 25 cases of specific violations of human rights of Indigenous Peoples in 15 countries. For some cases the Special Rapporteur has provided detailed observations with specific recommendations or descriptions of other follow up measures he has taken.
The 25 cases include:
• Chile: Situación de los presos mapuche en una huelga de hambre y la aplicación de la ley antiterrorista en su contra
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, submitted his annual report to the Human Rights Council about the impacts of extractive industries operating on or near Indigenous People's lands.
On August 19, the Maya Q'eqchi community of Agua Caliente, El Estor, Izabal, filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights against Guatemala for violating their rights to property, self-government, due process of law, and judicial protection.
The Peruvian Congress has unanimously adopted a historic bill recognizing Indigenous Peoples' rights to prior consultation. The law, which was passed August 23, is based on the International Labour Organization Convention 169 and requires companies to consult with Indigenous communities before undertaking any type of development project such as building mines or drilling for oil. The law is a radical change from the laissez-faire policies of the previous administration, which led to protests and police violence.
To mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9th, representatives of 50 community radio stations from all over Guatemala came to the Centro Historico in Guatemala City to participate in a two-day conference on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to freedom of expression through radio. The goal of the conference was to bring pressure on congress to legalize community radio in Guatemala by approving the Bill 4087, the Law for Community Media.
Reina is from the town of San Mateo, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. She has been working at the Doble Via radio station since it opened, for just about a year.
August 9 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, and Cultural Survival joins the world in recognizing and honoring of the strength, resilience, dignity, and pride of Indigenous Peoples around the world.
From July 11 to 15, 2011, more than 100 Indigenous nations, peoples, and organizations met with representatives from 34 countries in Geneva at the fourth meeting of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The mechanism was created in 2007 by the UN Human Rights Council to provide the council with expert advice on the state of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Members of the U.S. Congress heard testimony from Indigenous Peoples of Africa at a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on May 12. The hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., was co-chaired by Rep. James McGovern and Rep Frank Wolf. It followed on a similar hearing last year for Indigenous Peoples of Latin America.
Samburu families who are suing Kenya’s former president Daniel arap Moi celebrated a small but significant victory in a Kenyan courtroom May 12, when their lawyers persuaded a high court judge to allow them more time to prepare their case.
Reconocimiento de tierra
Reconocemos que nuestra sede está en la tierra de Massachusetts, en Cambridge, MA, y agradecemos a los administradores Indígenas pasados, actuales y futuros de este territorio.
