NEW STUDY REVEALS HOW DEVELOPMENT AID FAILS TO RESPECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS, Press Release, 24 April 2003

International Indian Treaty Council

CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

	“WORKING FOR THE RIGHTS AND RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES"

24 April 2003

PRESS INFORMATION: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW STUDY REVEALS HOW DEVELOPMENT AID FAILS TO

RESPECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS

A new study by the Forest Peoples Programme reveals that only four

international development agencies have binding policies on indigenous

peoples. Only three - out of 27 development agencies reviewed have policies that adopt a rights-based approach. Only 3 have formal appeals or accountability mechanisms related to their field operations. The result is that indigenous peoples are not effectively protected from the impacts of development schemes and are denied means of redress when things go wrong.

The 100-page report, A Failure of Accountability: Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights and Development Agency Standards, by Tom Griffiths of the Forest Peoples Programme looks in detail at the policies and operational procedures of the 27 main multilateral and bilateral development agencies active in developing countries. Reacting to the report Joji Cariño of the indigenous peoples NGO Tebtebba Foundation in the Philippines notes:

I was shocked to learn how we, indigenous peoples, are so thoroughly

marginalised in development planning. We hope this report will encourage developers to rethink the way they deal with us. We want them to respect our rights and give us control of our own futures.

Innumerable studies have shown that indigenous peoples suffer

disproportionately the negative impacts of "development". Dams, mines, oil, gas, road-building, colonisation, logging, forestry and even protected area schemes, all continue to have devastating impacts on indigenous peoples.

These peoples, who speak five thousand of the worlds estimated six thousand languages, occupy or own the last areas where biodiversity is substantially intact. Respect for their rights has long been recognised as a crucial element in "sustainable development".

Since the Earth Summit in 1992, development agencies have stressed the

importance of participation and human rights. They put pressure on

developing countries to be open, accountable and involve civil society and indigenous groups in decision-making. However, despite the rhetoric, development agencies are failing to put these principles into practice themselves . Says Dr. Tom Griffiths, author of the report:

Aid agencies insist that development should be transparent, rights-based and accountable, and we agree this is necessary, but they are not

practising what they preach. A major overhaul of development assistance is required before indigenous peoples can be sure the aid process will meet their needs and secure their rights.

For copies of the report please visit the FPP website:

http://forestpeoples.gn.apc.org or contact

<mailto:info@fppwrm.gn.apc.org>info@fppwrm.gn.apc.org

See attached executive summary (in English, Spanish and French).

Vease el resumen ejecutivo adjuntado (en ingles, espanol y frances)

Voir Résumé

Forest Peoples Programme

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