Resolution on the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples - ACHPR/Res.291(EXT.OS/XVI)2014

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) meeting at its 16^th Extraordinary Session held from 20 to 29 July 2014 in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda;

Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);

Further  recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.65 (XXXIV) 03 on the Report of the ACHPR Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities adopted at its 34^th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 6 to 20 November 2003, which was later endorsed by the African Union;

Noting with appreciation the work done by the ACHPR Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities (the Working Group) and its role in articulating the Commission’s position on the rights of indigenous populations in Africa;

Recognizing the positive developments in some countries with regard to the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights; 

Noting with satisfaction that all States Parties to the African Charter adhered to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration) when it was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007;

Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.121 (XXXXII) 07 on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted at its 42^nd Ordinary Session held from 15 to 28 November 2007 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in which the Commission welcomed the adoption of the instrument and recognized its importance for the promotion and protection of indigenous peoples’ rights all over the world, including on the African continent;

Taking note of UN Resolution 65/198 of 21 December 2010, in which the UN decided to organize a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, to be held in New York from 22 to 23 September 2014, in order to discuss the challenges, best practices and perspectives regarding the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the objectives of the Declaration;

Recalling UN Resolution 66/296 of 17 September 2012, also known as the ‘modalities resolution’, which calls on Member States of the UN, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations to participate fully and actively at the World Conference, and encourages Member States to include indigenous peoples’ representatives in their delegations;

Welcoming the election of the Republic of Uganda, a country which has adopted a consistent and progressive approach to indigenous peoples’ issues, to preside over the next UN General Assembly during which the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP) will be held;

Strongly convinced that Uganda will seize this opportunity to encourage African States to show greater commitment in preparing for this important event in order to contribute to its success;

Recognizing the active participation and the important contribution made by indigenous peoples in the WCIP process since the adoption of UN Resolution 65/198, including the Alta outcome document (official UN document A/67/994);

Mindful of the various consultation meetings that the President of the General Assembly has organized and is planning to organize in accordance with the modalities resolution;

Welcoming with satisfaction the publication of the zero draft of the outcome document of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples on 8 July 2014; 

 Calls on AU Member States to:

1. participate fully and actively in the preparation and deliberations of the World Conference;  
2. support the full and active participation of indigenous peoples and civil society organizations in the preparation and deliberations of the World Conference;
3. ensure that the drafting of the WCIP outcome document is done with the participation of indigenous peoples;
4. engage in constructive dialogue with the Working Group and civil society organizations working on indigenous issues;
5. ensure that the outcome document of the WCIP recognizes the work of regional human rights mechanisms, including the work of the Commission in promoting and protecting the rights of  indigenous peoples in Africa;  

Urges indigenous peoples’ representatives of State Parties and civil society organizations to continue to:

1. participate actively in the consultations to be organized by the General Assembly; and
2. engage in constructive dialogue with State Parties  throughout the preparatory process.

Adopted at the 16^th Extraordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held in Kigali, Republic of Rwanda, from 20 to 29 July 2014