Indigenous peoples still facing challenges due to COVID-19: UN

Indigenous People's Day, 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Biplob Rahman. Creatice Commons

Geneva, 10 Aug (Kanaga Raja) – Indigenous peoples continue to face severe challenges due to COVID-19, more than one year after the outbreak of the pandemic, a United Nations human rights expert has said.

In a statement marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 9 August, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, said it is especially concerning that even recovery efforts are having negative impacts on indigenous peoples.

The Special Rapporteur said that economic recovery measures have prioritized and supported the expansion of business operations at the expense of indigenous peoples, their lands and the environment.

“Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for States to promote mega-projects without adequate consultation with indigenous peoples,” Mr Cali Tzay added.

To avoid making the situation even worse, the rights expert urged States “to involve representatives, leaders and traditional authorities of indigenous peoples, including those living in urban areas, in the design and implementation of recovery policies.”

“To mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, I also would like to recognize the resilience of indigenous peoples and the exercise of their right to self-determination in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the hardships they face.”

Mr Cali Tzay also urged States “to step up their support for solutions led by indigenous peoples themselves and place indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination and land at the core of COVID-19 recovery efforts, in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

According to the Special Rapporteur, this is in order to effectively build back better than pre-pandemic times, when indigenous peoples already experienced multiple forms of racial, social and economic discrimination.

Meanwhile, in a separate message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that indigenous peoples around the world continue to face overwhelming marginalization, discrimination and exclusion.

The UN chief said that rooted in “colonialism and patriarchy”, these profound disparities are sustained by a deeply held resistance to recognizing and respecting the rights, dignity, and freedoms of indigenous peoples.

“Throughout modern history, indigenous peoples have been robbed of their lands and territories, of their political and economic autonomy, and even of their own children,” Mr Guterres added.

“Their cultures and languages have been denigrated and extinguished,” said the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General said that in recent months, the world has again been exposed to just some of the horrors faced by indigenous communities at the hands of colonizers.

“Some nations have begun to address this heinous legacy through apologies, truth and reconciliation efforts, and legislative and constitutional reforms,” he added.

“But much more needs to be done,” Mr Guterres underlined.

“We need a new social contract – one that restores and honours the rights, dignity and freedoms of those who have been deprived of so much for so long.”

Central to this must be genuine dialogue, interaction and willingness to listen, said the Secretary-General.

“We already have the tools we need to do this, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.”

There is no excuse for denying the world’s 476 million indigenous peoples self-determination and meaningful participation in all decision-making, said Mr Guterres.

He underscored that free, prior and informed consent is central for indigenous peoples to exercise their own vision of development.

“And while recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge grows, in particular in solving the climate and biodiversity crises and preventing the emergence of contagious diseases, we must ensure that indigenous knowledge is owned and shared by indigenous communities themselves.”

The United Nations system has a key role to play, said the Secretary-General.

“On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, let us show true solidarity by working to end the grievous inequalities of indigenous peoples worldwide, to fully recognize the abuse they have endured, and to celebrate their knowledge and wisdom,” he added.