CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

Stockholm Convention COP 4, Geneva, Switzerland May 4 – 8 2009

Indigenous Caucus Collective Statement for the High Level Segment

Presented by Imogen Ingram, Island Sustainability Alliance

May 7, 2009

Thank you Mr. Chairman,

I am making this statement on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the Stockholm Convention COP 4 High Level Segment.  Our caucus represents Indigenous organizations, nations and peoples from the Arctic, North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions. 

Indigenous Peoples continue to bear the brunt of the continued use of the POPS chemicals.  Throughout this session, Indigenous Peoples have stressed that the total elimination of the nine new chemicals will have a direct positive impact on safeguarding our health and way of life.    This must remain the central goal of this COP session.   Arctic Indigenous Peoples suffer levels of POPs contamination in blood and breast milk that are among the highest of any population on earth, even though these chemicals have never been produced in the Arctic.  This recognition inspired the negotiation of the Stockholm Convention, as noted in the preamble, and must now motivate the Convention’s strong implementation. 

We respectfully ask that the State Parties keep in mind that they are discussing issues that have severe impacts on our Peoples.  Short term economic gains and interests need to be recognized as such and not permitted to take priority over our lives and health.  

For Indigenous Peoples, any result at this session that falls short of listing all nine new proposed chemicals in Annex A for full elimination from the global environment will undermine the original intent  and promise of the Stockholm Convention and will further discount the urgent need of our Peoples, and all humanity.

Indigenous Peoples participating in COP 4 underscore the importance of recognizing and applying international human rights standards in these discussions, including those upholding and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in Sept. 2007 requires all forums and bodies of the UN to integrate, promote and respect these standards.

Article 42 of the Declaration affirms that “The United Nations, its bodies, including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and specialized agencies, including at the country level, and States shall promote respect for and full application of the provisions of this Declaration and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration.”  This applies to the Stockholm Convention COP4  as a process of the United Nations. It also underlines the commitment of the various State Parties who are participating.

We affirm that the formal participation and unique contributions of Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic as well as other regions is vital to maintaining the original spirit and intent of the Stockholm Convention and ensuring the success of its effectiveness evaluation process currently under development.   For this reason, we have proposed that the COP 4 implement a process for the development of formal mechanisms for the participation of Indigenous Peoples. 

We are specifically proposing that the COP 4 take action to implement at this session to create an Indigenous Peoples Working Group on Effective Implementation, consisting of Indigenous Peoples from all regions.  This Working Group will assist the Secretariat and the Parties to the Convention to collect, compile and provide expertise and information from scientific studies conducted by and/or in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and organizations as well as information provided by traditional use practitioners and knowledge holders to monitor impacts and level s of POPs in the Arctic and other regions, and support the effective implementation of the Convention. It can also develop and propose effective indicators relating to impacts on Indigenous Peoples’ traditional subsistence foods, cultural practices, environment, human rights, health and well-being;  identify best practices and partnership models for implementation and monitoring on national and regional levels; and provide technical briefings on a regular basis and as requested by the Secretariat and the Parties to the Convention.

In addition we reiterate our call for the inclusion of an Indigenous expert in the POPRC, appointed in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, and call for opportunities for the effective input by Indigenous Peoples into the process and programs of the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Stockholm Convention to ensure greater awareness and participation in this process by Indigenous Peoples from all regions.

As Indigenous Peoples, we call for greater inclusion, we offer our good will and expertise to the Parties and to the Secretariat for the Stockholm Convention, and we affirm that Indigenous Peoples are part of the solution.    

 Thank you.

Stockholm Convention COP 4 Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus members:

Island Sustainability Alliance C.I. Inc (Pacific Island Peoples)

International Indian Treaty Council

Akiak Native Community,, Alaska

Alaska Intertribal Council

Native Village of Savoonga, Alaska

Alaska Community Action on Toxics

Resist Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands (REDOIL, Alaska)

Native Women’s Association of Canada

Alaska Region, National Congress of American Indians