UN Human Rights Council

Topic: A

Rights of Indigenous People

UNHRC Topic A

Aruba

Aruba, a Caribbean island belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, was first settled

on by the Arawak Indians around 1000 C.E. More specifically, the Arawak tribe of the Caquetios

are the primitive natives to the island (Geographia).Through Aruban language and culture, much

of the Arawak tradition can be still be found today. However, no absolute aboriginal blood line of

the Indians can be found.

Today, more than half of Aruba's population is of Arawak descent, but also includes

Dutch, Spanish, and African descendants. Because of this, it is important that the government of

Aruba acknowledges and supports the rights to indigenous people. However, Aruba seceded

from the Netherlands in 1986 and his since become a self-governing country (New World

Encyclopedia). Aruba has not taken steps to insure rights to the aboriginal people of their land. In

fact, in 2007, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People was passed and voted on by

148 countries, but Aruba did not vote on the Declaration (United Nations). The Aruban

government has not spoken to the public about the issue as a whole, either.

I believe it is essential for Aruba to propose a policy on the rights granted to the native

people of their land, since the majority of the inhabitants are of Arawak descent. In addition to

this, Papiamento, which was the language brought to Aruba by the Caquetios, is still the

predominant language of the country. A proposal should be made to pass legislature

acknowledging the basic rights of indigenous people of Aruba. This issue is relevant now more

than ever since surrounding Caribbean and Latin American countries have recently began

immigrating into Aruba for remunerative employment. For legislature to be passed, a 7 member

council must agree on the solution of the indigenous people and present it to the Prime Minister,

who is currently Mike Eman (Wikipedia).The Prime Minister, along with the 7 member council

of ministers, would hold the executive power. This elected group would then present their

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proposal to the Governor himself, Fredis Refunjol, and him, along with a 21 member parliament

would vote upon it.

In conclusion, it is clear that the natives have left their mark upon their country. With the

strong withhold of indigenous Arawak indian culture, it is both necessary and urgent that the

government acknowledges the natives' impact on Aruba. Government action must be taken to

grant proper rights to indigenous people.

Works Cited

Wikipedia contributors. "Governor of Aruba." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 Oct.

2013. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.

Geographia contributors. “Aruba: History.” Geographia. Inter Knowledge Corp., 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 October 2014.

"Aruba." New World Encyclopedia, . 15 Nov 2012, 00:03 UTC. 6 Oct 2014, 19:18

United Nations contributors. “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.” UNBISNET, We. 6 Oct. 2014

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Brazil

The rights of indigenous people around the world have been consistently violated and infringed upon. In some countries such as the United States and Canada, conditions have been improved in the past while in others, such as Brazil, efforts are currently being made to stem the tide of injustice. However, still others have digressed significantly over time. This has come up as a major human rights issue because tribes of indigenous people are still being neglected and abused all over the world, such as in Sudan’s massive area known as Darfur. The UN Human Rights Council has determined that this is genocide against the African natives of Sudan by those of Arab descent, much like the Rwandan genocide of the Tutsi people in 1994. Not only are these aboriginal people losing their lives; they are losing the heritage and ancient cultures that go hand in hand with retaining their sacred lands. In the case of the San people of Botswana and the Maasai of Kenya, their lands are being brutal stripped from them, resulting in a loss of heritage as they connect so deeply with their environment. In spite of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that ensures the fair treatment and equality of all human beings, many tribes of indigenous people all over the world are being treated with genocide and an inability to practice their culture, such as the Nuba of Sudan. As the largest democratic republic in South America, Brazil realizes the vitality of change so that the rights of native tribes everywhere are respected.

Brazil is especially touched by this issue, as it has approximately seventy-seven tribes of indigenous, never contacted peoples in the lush Amazon Rainforest, more than any other nation in the world. A vigorous attempt is being made to ensure the fair treatment of aborigines in Brazil. This is proven in our signing of the U.N. Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which ensures the equality and fair treatment of all native tribes. Brazil has been increasingly made aware of this issue due to a massive wave of indigenous unrest by 238 tribes that shook Brazilian democracy in 2013. The dispute was over land rights and the oppression of aborigines, and its end result was the enforcement of Brazil’s constitution: indigenous people have original rights to their land that the government cannot infringe upon without their consent. Brazil firmly believes, as supported by Article 67 of our constitution, the rights of indigenous people must be protected; however, as proven by the delayed demarcation of 291 Brazilian tribes, it is not an easy task. The Brazilian government stands against the genocide of indigenous people and desires to make restitution to aboriginal tribes in ensuring that their rights are not further violated.

Brazil believes that the first action that must be taken in ensuring the rights of indigenous people is to educate the general population on surrounding indigenous tribes’ cultures and aspirations for the future. In order to do this, an educational program specific to the needs of each country must be added to school curriculums so that the youth who will eventually lead the nation understand that these human beings must be accepted and treated with the utmost equality. For example, in Brazil the program may be based on constitutional rights while in Sudan it may be based on acceptance of indigenous rights. After an educational step has been taken, it falls upon the government to take action in ensuring their people’s rights. Brazil recommends the drafting of new legislature at the federal level that defines and protects the rights of indigenous tribes, preventing further genocide and violence. Finally, Brazil recognizes that in many cases, indigenous people are displaced or unable to communicate with the rest of society. We propose the creation of an organization specifically dedicated to communicating with the aboriginal peoples of each nation, as well as humanitarian aid by organizations

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such as the Red Cross to improve the living condition and health of indigenous people, displaced or not. The created organization will help to overcome the language barrier while effectively conveying just what each side in a situation desires, such as sacred lands for the indigenous peoples. In educating the general public, ensuring the rights of natives through government, and overcoming the barrier of communication with aborigines, the rights of indigenous tribes all over the world will be ensured and protected as they so deserve.

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Bulgaria

The indigenous people of any area are the people whose ancestors and themselves have lived on the land since birth. In many areas and cultures the indigenous people make up less than half of the population with the exception of Guatemala and Bolivia. In most cases the indigenous people were responsible for the past preservation of the environment. They identify themselves as indigenous and speak their own languages, and have their own distinctive cultures. This is not the case for all indigenous peoples, just a majority of indigenous people. Indigenous people are commonly poor, mainly because people and companies don’t observe their rights. This is a global issue, seeing as there are indigenous people everywhere that are being wronged.

In Bulgaria, the indigenous peoples are Bulgarian-speaking Muslims, also known by the name of Pomaks. They were oppressed when the government made them convert and change their names from Muslim names to Bulgarian names. Obviously the rights of indigenous people has happened and is a violation of basic human rights. The United Nations hasn’t turned a blind eye to these wrong-doings though. A resolution has been published by the United Nations, titled Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This document establishes guidelines for educating people about indigenous people and helping them gain rights. The true problem pertaining to the rights of indigenous people is not making the rules or laws, but enforcing the previously established guidelines. This isn’t to say that modifications should be made, because the world is ever changing and modifications to this existing document would be necessary to get the best scenario possible for indigenous peoples.

The steps to a solution in protecting the rights of indigenous people is informing people about indigenous people themselves, and then educating people on their rights, and how they have been violated in the past. This can be done through PSA’s, social media, public education, or private organization advertisements. There is an organization out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, called Culture Survival that advocated for indigenous people. Organizations like this one would be instrumental in helping educate people. The next step is establishing clear rules as to what rights these indigenous people have. If there is any possibility for loopholes, or if the lines blur at all, the rights will be violated. While writing a working/resolution paper, the clauses must be clear on the rights of these people, to avoid future violations.

Overall, to combat the problem, the general public must be educated on the rights of these people so they do not un-intentionally violate them. This can be done privately through existing organizations such as Culture Survival, and on a greater scale through the UN or governments of countries. The next step in finding this solution would be to clearly establish the borders of the rights of indigenous people, which must include rights to practicing their religion freely, keeping their cultures, which these people are able to identify with. Other rights they need to establish include welfare, an end to discrimination, and all other fundamental rights that each and every human on this earth has, as established in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law.

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Works Cited

"United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." un.org: 1-18. pdf file.

"Who are Indigenous Peoples?" Cultural Survival. Cultural Survival, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.culturalsurvival.org/who-are-indigenous-peoples>.

"World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Bulgaria : Bulgarian-speaking Muslims

(Pomaks)." refworld. UNHCR, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

<http://www.refworld.org/docid/49749d4737.html>.

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Cambodia

When companies cut down forests, society thinks of the animals they are killing, not the indigenous tribes that they are murdering. Indigenous people account for 5% of the worlds population, yet compose of 15% of the worlds poor. The United Nations has not yet adopted an official definition for the word Indigenous. Instead the UN has developed a set of characteristics for the word indigenous which consists of strong links to territories, non-dominant groups of society, and distinct cultural and political beliefs. Cambodia deems, that the rights of indigenous people globally, is a prominent issue.

Cambodia believes that by partnering with profit/non-profit organizations focused on indigenous people, nations can ensure the rights of indigenous people. Cambodia is partnered with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination or ICERD which is established in the UNHRC. Under Article 5(e) of ICERD, commits Cambodia to ensure the enjoyment, on an equal footing without discrimination, of economic, social and cultural rights, in the particular right to education. The United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people or UNDRIP has passed resolution 61/295 which consists of but does not limit to; indigenous people shall not be forcibly removed from their lands, indigenous individuals have the right to all forms of education of the State, and they have to right to participate in decision making in matters that would affect their rights. The issue that we face today is, many countries do not enforce their laws protecting Indigenous Peoples, or they fail to provide easy access to the benefits of such laws. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has set up the program IPAF or Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility. IPAF generates lessons to teach indigenous communities to learn about their rights. The facility also finances small-projects created by the indigenous groups such as Managing natural resources and Improving livelihoods of indigenous peoples through recovery of traditional knowledge. Also, IPAF is governed by a board which consists of mostly indigenous members making it so, that indigenous communities trust it.

Cambodia believes that by partnering with ICERD, UNDRIP, and IPAF the rights of indigenous people will be recognized globally. Cambodia highly encourages other nations with the similar issue of indigenous people to also partner with such organizations, if they haven't all ready. IFAD President Kanayo Nwanze once said "Unless we mainstream the rights of indigenous peoples, unless we are serious about their empowerment, unless we work with them as equal partners " then any global development agenda we conceive will be a hollow exercise, empty, because it will not reach the most disadvantaged."

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Bibliography

"Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility." Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

"The Indigenous Movement." First Peoples Worldwide. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

"UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." Cultural Survival. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

"OHCHR Cambodia Cambodia and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." OHCHR Cambodia Cambodia and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

N.p.: n.p., n.d. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of InDigenous PeoPles. United Mations, Mar. 2008. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf>.

"The Rights of Indigenous People in Cambodia." (n.d.): n. pag. Feb. 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http://www.wmd.org/documents/0310dn13.pdf>.

"UN Rep: Countries Should Do More For Their Indigenous People." San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose: Bay Area News, Weather &... KTVU, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/un-rep-countries-should-do-more-for-their/v8mCr/?__federated=1>.

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Colombia

The rights of indigenous people have been a concern to countries around the world including Colombia for decades. The UN views the rights of indigenous people as an important concern and a priority of the UNHRC to preserve the rights of the indigenous people. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People establishes the universal framework for the rights of indigenous people including rights to education and the outlawing of discrimination. Prior to the UNDRIP, indigenous people have faced discrimination, violations on their human rights, and the usurpation of their native lands. Even with the passing of the UNDRIP, the aboriginal still widely face discrimination and injustices daily. A 2008 statistic in Australia on aboriginal discrimination showed that 26% of young people in Australia had experienced discrimination. Of the 26%, about 66% were aboriginal or indigenous. As a large number of peoples aboriginal to their homes are being displaced and are victims of discrimination, the UN is instrumental in preserving the rights of the indigenous.

Colombia, as a country built upon colonization, is at the center of the issue due to the widespread oppression of the indigenous centuries. As it stands, Colombia contains at least 40 different tribes native to the Colombian land. Mining in Colombia has caused the displacement of countless indigenous from their ancestral lands. Brutal treatment of warring armed groups has also contributed to this large number of IDPs. An estimated three million people have been forced to flee their homes. Of these three million people, about 41,000 are indigenous to Colombia, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. At least 27 indigenous groups in Colombia are now considered to be at risk of extinction as a result of armed conflict. Thousands of indigenous are struggling to survive in cities and towns, estranged from the lands that have shaped their identities. Out of place in such cities, the indigenous fall prey to drugs and prostitution in an effort to survive. As an active participator in the UNHRC, Colombia believes it is important to preserve the rights of all people in Colombia.

As it is important to return the indigenous to their ancestral lands and for them to receive their rights, it is important to take into account that compromise is the only option to solve this centuries old issue. In the past, Colombia has abstained from voting on the UNDRIP. Although this isn’t a vote in favor of the rights of the indigenous, Colombia would like to compromise on the rights of indigenous. As it is too late to reimburse indigenous people in all nations, Colombia believes it is important to come up with a set of standards on which the rights of the indigenous should be built upon. It is important to set aside reservations for the indigenous but first fight must end. The return of all lands would be impossible due to economic reasons. The promotion of rights would have to begin with the ending of armed conflict and fighting. Colombia ultimately would like to discuss compromise

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Ghana

Ghana is known to be a very independent nation that does not give up. It started out as a nation that was under British monarchy, but fought for its freedom. The outcome of the fight was The Republic of Ghana, a nation of democracy. From democrative influence, Ghana evolved into a country in hope of a Utopian society. So to say, modern is not exactly in its vocabulary. Its eyes are set on two things, and two things only, freedom and equality. As Kwame Nhrumah once said, “Seeing you in this… It doesn’t matter how far my eyes go, I can see that you are here in your millions. And my last warning to you is that you are to stand firm behind us so that we can prove to the world that when the African is given a chance, he can show the world that he is somebody!”

Every government has its flaws. Every government is filled with some sort of unrest, some more than others. In Ghana, its main flaw is the violation of natural rights. One violation being the recurring dilemma of death, another, the relentless idea of culture. Life can be taken away from a Ghanaian in an instant in cases of defense, rioting, prevention of crime, and the prevention of escape. Because of this, in 2006 the Ghanaian government began making reparation payments to around 2,000 victims of past human rights abuses. People who suffered abuses including torture, arbitrary detention, and confiscation of property-mostly during the rule of Jerry Rawlings-were slated to receive payments between $217 and $3,300.

Based on culture and language, the indigenous people of Ghana are classified into five major groups. These are the Akan, the Ewe, MoleDagbane , the Guan, and the Ga-Adangbe. Some inhabitants of present Ghana had ancestors linked with the medieval Ghana. This can be traced down to the Mande and Voltaic people of Northern Ghana--Mamprussi, Dagomba and the Gonja. Based on these beginnings, it is very easy to tell that Ghana and the typical whiteman are not on the best of terms. The African culture was rejected by many and was not turning out as anyone predicted. The Konkomba in Ghana have been looked down upon by virtue of not having paramount chieftaincy. The Nanumba and their Dagomba allies have had bloody disagreements with the Konkomba over land and political issues. Nanumba, Dagomba and Gonja claim Konkomba to be their subjects, that is, strangers who settled in their land and have paid tribute such as bridges, free labour, crops and livestock for hundreds of years. Konkomba say they were 'subjects' because Dagomba and their allies had occupied ancestral Konkomba land. The Konkomba are indigenous to north-east Ghana and north-west Togo. The Konkomba have limited political power and land rights. They are not represented in the Northern Region House of Chiefs (a major political institution taking that plays a key role in the development and distribution of government). National institutions that recruit are from Nanumba, Dagomba and Mamprusi. The Konkomba, however, feel that they are being unjustly excluded from having a chieftaincy title, and they now seek their own. In present day, Ghana is a parliamentary government and contains the executive, legislative and judicial branches. As similar to the U.S., the executive branch takes laws and puts them into effect. The judicial branch oversees the court system and makes sure people are kept in order by the laws. Lastly, the legislative branch creates the laws as they see fit. Without these three parts of the government, a country would be in ruins. These branches were created to keep order. As quoted in the Constitution of Ghana, “The Rule of Law; The protection and preservation of fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Unity and Stability for our Nation.” This shows the idea that Ghana believes in equal rights for all. Ghana believes in a world with no prejudice and the preservation of their given rights. Lastly, to recap,

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Ghana is strongly opinionated in the idea that the people of their country deserve the same rights regardless of race, religion, or language.

References

The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 Fundamental Human Rights and

Freedoms. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2014, from The Constitution of the Republic of

Ghana 1992 website: http://www.judicial.gov.gh/constitution/chapter/chap_5.htm

Justin. (2012, March 6). Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Declaration of Ghana’s Independence

[Blog post]. Retrieved from The Multicultural Politic website:

http://www.tmponline.org/2012/03/06/dr-kwame-nkrumahs-declaration-of-ghanas-

independence/

World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Ghana : Overview. (2007).

Retrieved October 5, 2014, from Refworld website:

http://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce3423.html

UNHRC Topic A

Spain

The rights of indigenous people present a point of contention for countries around the

world. There are at least 5000 groups of indigenous peoples, yet, due to heinous acts against

them, this number only continues to fall (un.org). With over 50 per cent of these people living in

their nations major cities, their culture is in decline. Although few flock to these populous areas

in search of education and employment, many move to avoid human rights violations which seek

to destroy their land rights and cultural survival. In addition, these people aspire to protect and

promote their identities within their respective nations.

Spain especially has been involved in the issue of the status of indigenous people within

its borders. Beginning in the 16th century, the Basque region bordering France in northeastern

Spain has been a region of the country with a distinct national identity. Conflict between Spain’s

national government and the Basque people has punctuated Spain’s history, leading to a divide

between the region and the whole of Spain. This was painfully true in the 20th century, which

saw severe repression of most non-Castilian cultural practices in Spain under the totalitarian

dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Provoked by the Spanish government’s oppression, Basque

nationalists turned to drastic measures; in 1959, the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, or ETA was

established as an armed separatist paramilitary group aimed at gaining independence through

violent antagonization of Spanish authority, often through terrorism (Matloff). In all, 829 people

lost their lives to violence committed by the ETA over its 60 years of activity (Matloff).

However, after the return of democracy to Spain in the late 1970s, efforts were made to reconcile

with the Basque people. In 1979, the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country was ratified,

creating a native Basque parliament and giving Basque authorities both privileges and

responsibilities in the governance of culture, education, economics, judiciary matters, and

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medicine among others in the Basque country (Castells and Jauregui; The Statute of the

Autonomy of the Basque Country). In addition, the Basque language of Euskara was made

official side by side with Spanish in the Basque region (The Statute of the Autonomy of the

Basque Country). While legislation in the Basque country was still under the authority of the

Spanish constitution and a quota of taxes collected were to be paid to the national Spanish

government, the separatist sentiment of the Basque people was mollified (Matloff, The Statute of

the Autonomy of the Basque Country). In combination with Spain’s entry into the European

Union, the fulfillment of Basque national desires fulfilled by this act helped to facilitate the

rebirth of the Basque region into one of Europe’s premier industrial centers (Matloff). However,

despite its willingness to provide some of its regions with certain autonomous rights, Spain

opposes the full independence of these regions. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain said on

September 9th, 2014 that “It’s false that the right to vote can be assigned unilaterally to one

region about a matter that affects all Spaniards,” when discussing the proposed referendum for

independence in Catalonia (Govan). In addition, Rajoy stated the referendum “can’t take place, it

is not legal ("Spain PM Says Catalan Vote 'illegal'").”

In light of this success in the case of the Basque country, Spain views autonomy without

complete independence as the best solution to the issue of nationalist sentiment in indigenous

minority populations, while deploring the use of violence. However Spain also believes that as

the economic prosperity of indigenous regions is key to their stability and capacity to contribute

to their overall nations, financial investment in the industry of indigenous regions is vital to their

amiable relationship with their host country as well.

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Works Cited

Castells, Jose M., and Gurutz Jauregui. "12. Political Autonomy and Conflict Resolution: The

Basque Case." 12. Political Autonomy and Conflict Resolution: The Basque Case.

United Nations University, 1996. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

Govan, Fiona. "Spain Blocks Catalonia Referendum on Independence." The Telegraph.

Telegraph Media Group, 29 Sept. 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

"International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2007." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web.

12 Oct. 2014.

Matloff, Judith. "Basque-ing in Peace | World Policy Institute." Basque-ing in Peace | World

Policy Institute. World Policy Institute, 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

"Spain PM Says Catalan Vote 'illegal'" BBC News. BBC, 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

The Statute of the Autonomy of the Basque Country, et seq. (Kingdom of Spain 1979).

Print.

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Kuwait

Nearly every nation has indigenous peoples. In many countries, they have been forced into subpar lifestyles. And yet very little is done to support or aid them. While we may think of this as a third-world problem, it happens all over the globe. In Canada, in September of 2014, Holly Jarrett of Hamilton, Ontario started a social media campaign to bring attention to a pressing issue: the kidnapping and murder of indigenous Canadian women. Kuwait’s indigenous minority, however, is the Bidoun people. Although our country has had a history of racism and discrimination against the Bidoun, in recent years we have passed a number of laws supporting them, including one providing free education for Bidoun children. The statelessness of the Bidoun, however, is still a huge issue that affects their given human rights.

In the rest of the modern world, the rights of indigenous people are a pressing but often ignored issue. The United Nations has published a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, but it has had little effect on the people who may be helped by it. Canada, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand even voted against it. While these nations, which have low native populations, wanted simply to preserve their own interests, this is a clear sign that first-world nations are less responsive to the problems of indigenous people. Kuwait did vote in favor of this declaration, and have attempted to live up to its standards, but the statelessness of native and indigenous peoples can still weigh heavily on their rights and privileges as citizens.

It is the statelessness of these indigenous people that the nation of Kuwait would like to see changed. While many countries have made a conscious effort to help their indigenous peoples, there is only so much they can do. If the indigenous people were given (as stated in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People) “the right to a nationality,” they would find it much easier to enjoy human rights and freedoms we take for granted. Additionally, the government should provide the aid these people need to become citizens, whether through lawmaking, registration drives, or any other means of citizenization. With these measures in place we will be one step closer to fully accepting indigenous peoples, and ensuring they have full rights under the law. It is also our opinion that the rest of the modern world should follow Kuwait’s example by providing free education to indigenous children. With these changes, the civilized world will become increasingly more tolerant and accepting of its indigenous peoples.

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Kuwait

Nearly every nation has indigenous peoples. In many countries, they have been forced into subpar lifestyles. And yet very little is done to support or aid them. While we may think of this as a third-world problem, it happens all over the globe. In Canada, in September of 2014, Holly Jarrett of Hamilton, Ontario started a social media campaign to bring attention to a pressing issue: the kidnapping and murder of indigenous Canadian women. Kuwait’s indigenous minority, however, is the Bidoun people. Although our country has had a history of racism and discrimination against the Bidoun, in recent years we have passed a number of laws supporting them, including one providing free education for Bidoun children. The statelessness of the Bidoun, however, is still a huge issue that affects their given human rights.

In the rest of the modern world, the rights of indigenous people are a pressing but often ignored issue. The United Nations has published a declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, but it has had little effect on the people who may be helped by it. Canada, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand even voted against it. While these nations, which have low native populations, wanted simply to preserve their own interests, this is a clear sign that first-world nations are less responsive to the problems of indigenous people. Kuwait did vote in favor of this declaration, and have attempted to live up to its standards, but the statelessness of native and indigenous peoples can still weigh heavily on their rights and privileges as citizens.

It is the statelessness of these indigenous people that the nation of Kuwait would like to see changed. While many countries have made a conscious effort to help their indigenous peoples, there is only so much they can do. If the indigenous people were given (as stated in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People) “the right to a nationality,” they would find it much easier to enjoy human rights and freedoms we take for granted. Additionally, the government should provide the aid these people need to become citizens, whether through lawmaking, registration drives, or any other means of citizenization. With these measures in place we will be one step closer to fully accepting indigenous peoples, and ensuring they have full rights under the law. It is also our opinion that the rest of the modern world should follow Kuwait’s example by providing free education to indigenous children. With these changes, the civilized world will become increasingly more tolerant and accepting of its indigenous peoples.

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Pakistan

Indigenous groups such as the Pashtuns, Punjabis, Balochis, and Sindhis are being threatened in Afghanistan by a number of different factors. A very heated conflict rages currently between the Baloch people of the province of Balochistan and the Pakistani government. The Balochistan region makes up 44% of the land in Pakistan, but it only contains 5% of its population (Wikipedia). It’s the least developed area in Pakistan. Balochi nationalists have been challenging the governments of Iran and Pakistan since 1948. They formed the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has been considered a Terrorist Organization ever since their series of 2006 attacks carried out by the BLA on security personnel, civilians, and journalists. Dr. Wahid Baloch, founder of the Baloch Society of North America, claims that there is an ongoing genocide of the Baloch people because the Pakistani state wants to take the resources in their area. Over 8,000 Balochis have been kidnapped by Pakistani security forces do far, and there have been many reports of torture. Pakistani security and other organizations have been committing human rights violations by dumping murdered, mutilated bodies on the sides of roads (Wikipedia).

Another prominent occurrence of the infringement of rights on indigenous groups in Pakistan is the Durand Line. The Durand Line is the border that separates Pakistan from Afghanistan. It runs directly through the center of the land that the Pashtuns have inhabited for hundreds of years. There are about 50 million Pashtuns (2012 Census), and many of them speak Pashto. The line divides them and weakens them. It prevents them from unifying to bring any political change, and it makes them easier to control. Another group, the Punjabis, make up a whopping 45% of Pakistan’s population, but their language, Punjabi, is still not recognized. The Sindhi people have also faced persecution and human rights violations. The Sindhis have been around since about 3300 B.C.E, the time of the Indus River Valley civilization. Many of them are Hindus and are persecuted for their religion. In some cases, Sindhis are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam. Sindhi leaders and Sindhi nationalists have also been kidnapped .

All of these groups have faced conflict from religious extremists and terrorist groups. Indigenous groups have had their political voices stifled by extremists threatening them before voting and even rigging polls to assure the favored extremist candidate would get the upper hand. Many indigenous groups do not fit the extremists’ idea of Islamic, so they are being persecuted. Pakistan does not approve of the stubborn and nationalistic behavior exhibited by the indigenous groups. Pakistani government will not tolerate it because if these regions become autonomous, Pakistan will fall apart, and there will hardly be anything left of the country. The Pakistani government wishes to remain unified. That way, the country will have more resources, and the economy will be better for everyone. Also, the indigenous tribes/groups rely on the protection of Pakistan. The offered solution is to continue to deal with indigenous uprisings in any way possible to keep the chaos and anarchy to a minimum. The government believes the Durand Line should stay exactly where it is: dividing Pashtun land. This helps minimize rebellious behavior. The government also will continue to suppress the efforts of the terrorists of Balochistan because they are a threat to all Pakistanis.

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Poland

In a day post-imperialism, it is quite common to see the remnants of indigenous people

left behind by the conquerors, whose descendants inhabit the geographic area taken to this day.

The human race is one that continues on the Darwinian basis of survival of the fittest. In our

society, the fittest are the imperialistic nations and groups that were able to occupy and take an

area from another group. Comparatively, this makes the indigenous group the weaker, the

subjugated. This is apparent with the fact that only 370 million people out of 7 billion are

considered indigenous. This shows not only the fact that these people are struggling to contribute

to society and survive, but also that they are such a small group of people that their rights should

not even be a matter for the UNHRC to decide. A group so minute and with populations varying

so greatly within each nation should be given rights on a national basis. We must not infringe

national sovereignty on this issue.

Poland is a nation that contains about 38.5 million people. Of these 38.5 million, 28

million are native Poles and Gorals. This means that the majority of Poland is indigenous to

Poland. Poland has a thriving indigenous population, despite being wiped off of the world map

twice in two World Wars. This is evidence that indigenous people can survive without obtaining

special rights above those of a normal citizen. Poland has not passed or supported any legislation

that restricts the rights of indigenous people, but we have neither supported or passed any

legislation that places indigenous peoples rights above others. Poland’s indigenous people are

doing very well and we believe that nations whose indigenous populations are becoming

destitute need to re-evaluate their human rights as a whole, or perhaps let the self destructive

population run its course.

Poland would seek to develop a resolution that, at most, gives helpful life resources such

as education to indigenous people that are in need. Poland believes that certain tools in life are

basic rights such as vocational or standard education and very small subsidies to get the

indigenous people on the right track. Poland would also support measures to restrict the amount

of aid going to an indigenous population and would rather that it be directed towards other

UNHRC Topic A

projects, as we believe indigenous people need little help to be functional citizens. Organizations

like the UNIPP (UN Indigenous Peoples’ Partnership) should be carefully monitored to ensure

that valuable resources are not being overused for the sole use by the indigenous. We should not

place indigenous peoples on a pedestal over all others. They must be treated the same as all

other people of the nation, and should be allowed minimal aid to contribute to society at the very

least.

Works Cited

"Trust Fund Factsheet - UN Indigenous Peoples' Ptnrshp." Trust Fund Factsheet - UN

Indigenous Peoples' Ptnrshp. United Nations, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

"World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Poland : Overview."

Refworld. Minority Rights Group International, 2007. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

UNHRC Topic A

Slovakia

Although many reforms have been made throughout the 21st century, protecting the

rights of minorities continues to be a struggle. In Slovakia, sentiment against the indigenous

Roma people remains strong, despite the efforts of human rights activists. When Jan Slota, leader

of the National Slovak Party was elected president in 1992, he used his power to discriminate

against the Roma. His party continued to be an influence in Slovakia’s government throughout

the early years of the 21st century.

Recently, Slovakia has turned to more democratic ideals regarding the Roma. In 2007,

Slovakia voted for the United Nations General Assembly’s “Declaration on the Rights of

Indigenous Peoples”, which affirmed the rights of traditional minority groups. However,

Slovakia objected to the Declaration’s separation of individual and collective rights. In 2013,

human rights advocates investigated police abuse in a Roma settlement in Slovakia. They stated

that numerous human rights violations had taken place, and the United Nations’ High

Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the violence. Hate crimes against the Roma have

sometimes gone improperly prosecuted. While Slovakia’s president, Andrej Kiska is alarmed by

such hatred towards the Roma, he and his supporters find it difficult to to put pro-Roma policies

into place due to the widespread discrimination against the group.

Slovakia condemns the restriction of the rights of indigenous peoples, but understands

that the subject is delicate in certain areas. Action must be taken to protect the freedom and

culture of such groups. At the same time, the definition of rights varies between countries, and

therefore cannot be decided by U.N. resolutions. National sovereignty must be maintained at all

UNHRC Topic A

times. Slovakia supports the creation of educational facilities to teach indigenous groups and

other populations about traditional cultures. Additionally, funding may be necessary to combat

violence against indigenous groups. However, Slovakia will not agree to any resolution that

attempts to define what constitutes a right. The Delegation will not tolerate any impositions on

its country’s constitution or government.

Works Cited

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Washington: For Sale by the Supt. of

Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1970. Un.org. United Nations General Assembly. Web.

26 Oct. 2014.

"World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Slovakia : Overview."

Refworld. Minority Rights Group International, 2007. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

UNHRC Topic A

Sudan

Rights of the Indigenous Peoples have been neglected for a long while as the world continues to

reform and come up with innovative ideas. The world, has been concerning itself with the future

for too long that we have been forgetting about how we got here. We have been forgetting about

those who connect us to the past. As the indigenous peoples face discrimination and

marginalization, they struggle to receive the collective rights they deserve as they are still

excluded from our societies and deprived of rights compared to the other citizens of that area.

It is unbelieveable that approximately 370 million people in our world being deprived of their

rights. Article 10 of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states,

“Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation

shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned

and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.

Sudan’s indigenous Nubian people suffer from displacement as their homes are being threatened

by a new dam which is contradictory to the Declaration.

As much as we are trying, we are not trying enough. The people of Sudan, as well as everyone

else, should acknowledge and emphasize the fact that the rights of the indigenous peoples are

being threatened and are not cared for as much as they should be. As much as our government

cares about the indigenous people, Sudan’s current conflicts with Darfur and with the rebellious

militias. It is in all of our best interest to help these people and to reach out to the countries who

are in difficult situations to help these people together. It is in our highest hope to gain the rights

of the indigenous peoples and to give them justice and equality they deserve.

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