UNITAR
30 April 2019, New York, United States – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations, the Division of Indigenous Peoples of the United Nations, Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights (Indigenous Peoples Rights Program), the University of Kansas, and the Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples (GoFIP) hosted the 1st Orientation Workshop on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Mr. Marco Suazo, the Head of Office at UNITAR New York Office, delivered the opening remarks along with the Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations, Mr. Luis Gallegos Chiriboga and the Chief of the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch and the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Ms. Chandra Roy-Henriksen who spoke about the importance of addressing indigenous rights at the United Nations and actively pursuing equal treatment for indigenous peoples worldwide.
Workshop on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UNITAR
The morning session began with a small presentation by Mr. Shawn Watts, Indigenous Law Professor at Kansas University, and followed by an interactive small group discussion where participants gathered into groups and discussed their perspectives on indigenous rights. Then, the Director of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Program at Columbia University, Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou, gave a presentation on the Indigenous People’s Movement and Human Rights and provided information regarding the beginning of the movement since the 20th century and the progress that has been made until today.
The session continued by presentations by Mr. Devasish Roy, a Former Member of the UNFPII and the Chief of Chakma Circle and Mr. Johnson Cerda, the Director of DGM GEA Conservation International, on the right to self-determination and the right to lands, territories and resources. The participants were actively engaged with the presentations, allowing for fruitful discussions with the panelists.
Mr. Cerda continued his presentation on the right to lands, territories and resources during the afternoon session, followed by a very informative presentation by Ms. Stamatopoulou on the value of cultural rights of indigenous peoples. The session ended with another small group exercise where participants implemented the information they learned throughout the day on answering specific questions on land and cultural rights for indigenous peoples. At the completion of the workshop, Professor Stamatopoulou thanked the participants for attending and invited the audience to the next workshop on May 8th. Throughout the whole day, delegates and attendees were highly engaged in developing their communication and persuasion abilities, proving this first part of the workshop to be an excellent platform.
UNITAR
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