GENEVA - There is an urgency to facilitate the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the articulation of peaceful dispute resolution instead of excluding them from negotiations, a UN expert said today.
"With increased polarisation, fragmentation, and violence threatening global democracy the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples as important international solidarity leaders is now more urgent than ever," said Cecilia Bailliet, the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, in a report to the Human Rights Council.
"The majority of violence, armed conflicts, and militarisation of territories include areas in which Indigenous Peoples live and exacerbate issues in these already challenging environments," Bailliet said.
The construction of a global Indigenous Peoples solidarity movement could prove to be a counter to the trend towards multipolarity, as Indigenous Peoples could show leadership in emphasising the urgency of peaceful resolution of conflicts, mutual respect among all peoples and protection of those most vulnerable, as well as confirming the primacy of safeguarding Mother Earth in unity according to the Indigenous world view.
"I am deeply concerned by arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings of Indigenous Peoples at the hands of State and non-State actors; the use of anti-terrorism legislation, counter-insurgency policies, including surveillance or limitation of access to communication technologies; as well as gender based violence as means of silencing and quelling community resistance to industrial mega-projects," she said.
The expert also noted the negative impact of extractive industry on the environment and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples.
"States have an obligation to recognise Indigenous Peoples' territorial rights and refrain from conflating local communities with Indigenous Peoples as well as uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent on any decision affecting them," Bailliet said.
The Independent Expert also presented reports on her country visits to Denmark and Greenland, and Suriname.
