CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by Yaneisy Acosta Hernández, representative of the delegation of the Republic of Cuba, on Item 66: Indigenous Issues

64 UNGA. Third Committee. New York, 19 October, 2009.

Mr. Chairman,

The adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples constituted a historic victory in the fight of the world’s indigenous peoples to achieve the recognition of their ancient rights.

Indigenous people from different latitudes have been peacefully demanding those rights to the international community, and opposing the isolation, discrimination, and deprivation of their lands they have been suffering for over five centuries. 

During the First International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004) significant results were obtained in the search for solutions to the problems faced by indigenous peoples. Some of them are the contributions of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the establishment of a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and its Secretariat.

It should be specially highlighted the devoted work of the Working Group of the former Subcommission of the Commission on Human Rights , which concluded the drafting of what can be considered the most important contribution of the UN to remedy the discriminatory and dishonest treatment suffered by indigenous societies for centuries: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  

Mr. Chairman,

Cuba believes the adoption of the Declaration cannot be the end of the process, but the beginning of a new stage in which we must work closely for the effective recognition of the equality and the right to self-determination of more than 370 million indigenous people in the world, and their right to have their own institutions, cultures, and spiritual traditions, without suffering racism and discrimination.

Along with the ILO Convention169, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be used as an international referent to set national goals that will contribute to the actions included in the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

We must continue working so as to meet the five objectives leading the activities of the Second Decade, and harmonize them according to said Declaration.

Also, Cuba reaffirms that the Human Rights Council and its subordinate bodies shall pay special attention to the full realization of all human rights of the indigenous peoples in accordance with the Declaration.

Bearing in mind the human rights-related content of indigenous issues reflected in the Declaration, Cuba also reaffirms the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the follow-up to this matter.

 Cuba reiterates that the purpose of the United Nations in this Second Decade must not be limited to define the rights of indigenous peoples or try to integrate them according to development parameters rejected by almost the majority of those peoples, for being alien to their idiosyncrasies and vital needs.   

As in the past, Cuba will continue supporting the just demands of indigenous peoples aimed at the effective realization of their rights, and the protection of their free exercise, by means of mechanisms to that end, in favor of their general welfare.

Thank you.

(Cubaminrex- Embacuba ONU)

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