Draft declaration on indigenous peoples approved.

The Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities has approved, after 10 years of arduous negotiations, a draft declaration proclaiming the rights and unique value of indigenous peoples.

Faced with an ever-lengthening list of minority-related concerns, spawned by growing ethnic strife, large population movements, and other humanitarian catastrophes in the world, the Subcommission adopted 50 resolutions and 19 decisions at its forty-sixth session (1-26 August, Geneva). Issues ranged from crises in Rwanda and the Middle East, the transition to democracy in South Africa, to the rights of women, children and UN staff, and the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world.

Chairman Judith Sefi Attah of Nigeria said that people around the globe were becoming aware of their rights and were accordingly drawing the attention of Governments to rights that were being denied.

A total of eight texts on the rights of indigenous people were approved, as a prelude to the launching on 10 December of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The 26-member Subcommission--the main subsidiary body of the Commission on Human Rights--welcomed the General Assembly's decision that the Decade's goal should be to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in areas related to the environment, development, education and health. it recommended that the Decade's theme be: "Indigenous peoples: A new relationship; partnership in action".

The Subcommission also called for the International Day of Indigenous People to be observed every year on 9 August. The Secretary-General was asked to invite Governments and indigenous organizations to express their views concerning a permanent forum in the UN for indigenous people and recommended that the Centre for Human Rights organize a workshop on the matter.

The Subcommission also acted on the human rights situations in Albania, Iraq, Iran, Chad, Burundi, Togo, Guatemala, Haiti and Papua New Guinea.

One text called upon Governments to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism and cooperate in the fight against it. Respect for the rights of UN staff members and their families was urged in another text.

The dismantling of apartheid in South Africa was welcomed, but concern was expressed at the persistence of racist practices around the world. Expert members supported the convening of a world conference in 1997 to combat racism, racial and ethnic discrimination, xenophobia and other related contemporary forms of intolerance. The Subcommission also noted with grave concern that, efforts of the international community, the principal objectives of two UN Decades to combat racism and racial discrimination had not been obtained. A third such Decade, beginning in 1993, was proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution 48/91 of 20 December 1993.

The Subcommission demanded an immediate end to the massacres and sufferings imposed on the Rwandan people, citing "tardy and insufficiently effective intervention" by the international community. it also called for the quick and safe return of refugees to their homes and stressed that an international effort was needed to bring war criminals to trial and disarm the militias and extremists of the former Rwandan forces.

In a resolution adopted without a vote on the prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities, the Subcommission recommended the establishment of an intercessional working group to examine peaceful and constructive solutions to situations involving minorities.

Experts accorded high priority to the prevention of discrimination against women. The Subcommission approved a programme of action on traditional practices affecting the health of women and children. The human rights of women and the girl child, it decided, would be considered under every item of its agenda, as well as in all studies it undertook. Resolutions were also adopted on combatting contemporary forms of slavery and discrimination in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Draft principles on human rights and the environment were welcomed. A new agenda item on the implications of UN humanitarian activities on the enjoyment of human rights was considered, and the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on that question was recommended.