CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

Statement of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus

September 23, 2003

Having regard to the urgent need to achieve significant progress at this 9^th Working Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including progress through the adoption of articles of the Declaration,

And conscious of the fact that it is desirable to achieve consensus on the fundamental principles and rights reflected in the Declaration, including the right of self determination,

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations, at a meeting held on September 22, 2003, agreed to submit this statement in response to the request by the Chairperson to consult and attempt to reach consensus on Preambular paragraphs 14 and 15, bearing in mind the proposals of the Nordic Group, the delegation of Guatemala, the joint Indigenous proposal presented by AILA, and that presented by Ms. Victoria Tauli Corpuz. 

Thus, in the spirit of promoting and supporting a growing consensus, the Indigenous Peoples’ caucus hereby expresses its strong support for the following proposal for Preambular paragraphs 14 and 15, and Article 3, which combines elements of proposals from the Nordic Group, the delegation of Guatemala and the American Indian Law Alliance, as endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the Indigenous Peoples’ caucus at the aforesaid meeting:

PP 14: [ As proposed by AILA in a joint statement]

Acknowledging  that the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirm the fundamental importance of the right of self-determination of all peoples, and that this right applies equally to indigenous peoples,

PP 15: [As proposed by the delegation of Guatemala]

Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be used to deny any peoples their right of self-determination, exercised in accordance with principles of international law, including the principles contained in this Declaration.

Article 3 [As contained in the Sub-commission text]

Indigenous peoples have the right of self determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural  development.