International Day of Indigenous People observed
The fifteenth International Day of Indigenous People has been observed in the country by holding various programmes.
While various ethnic groups took out rallies in the capital demanding right to indigenous people and calling for meaningful Constituent Assembly elections, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) organised the major celebrations in Butwal in western Nepal.
Addressing the celebrations in Butwal, Ian Martin, chief of UNMIN and Special Representative of UN Secretary General, expressed satisfaction over the recently sealed deal between the government and indigenous community.
"This year's International Day of the World's Indigenous People has particular resonance in Nepal, with the dialogue between Janajati representatives and the Government resulting in a positive outcome this week," he said.
Terming the agreement as a major step for Nepal's indigenous peoples, Martin said, "It also highlights the need for continuing dialogue to ensure that there is consensus on the electoral system with Madhesis, Dalits and other traditionally marginalised groups. This will contribute to achieving the ultimate goal of the election: to produce a Constituent Assembly that is truly representative and able to frame a constitution which responds to the aspirations of all Nepalese people."
Martin also appealed to the indigenous community to pay particular attention towards uplifting "most marginalised within the community as well as women."
"In this week's agreement between the Janajati and Government representatives, the Government made the commitment to adopt and ratify two important United Nations instruments. Firstly, the Government committed to adopt the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples' Convention (known as Convention169 of the International Labour Organisation), which ensures consultation with and participation of indigenous communities and organisations. And secondly, it committed to ratify the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which establishes international human rights standards for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. The Declaration was adopted by the Human Rights Council in June 2006, and the General Assembly is expected to adopt it in the coming days."
Addressing a separate programme by the National Network of Indigenous Women in Kathmandu, Sandra Beidas, acting OHCHR representative in Nepal, said, "Creating an inclusive Nepalese society will take time. But greater representation for marginalised groups in the Constituent Assembly - including greater representation of Janajati women - should provide an unprecedented opportunity for such groups to have a strong role in determining the shape and nature of the new Nepal."
Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement issued on Thursday, called on member states of the United Nations – including Nepal – to adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the General Assembly in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), coordinator of the Human Rights Treaty Monitoring and Coordination Committee (HRTMCC), sub-committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR), has issued a statement raising the issues of exclusion, marginalisation, discrimination and poverty of indigenous people "which is still the daily reality for many of these people."
The RRN has urged the state to ensure all kinds of rights of indigenous people including their access to and control over natural resources; indigenous and traditional knowledge; and ratify relevant UN instruments, among others.
There are 59 listed indigenous nationalities in Nepal, according to the government. This year, the indigenous community has raised the issue of CA and how best to utilise it for their upliftment. nepalnews.com sd Aug 09 07
