| Article body :
The U.S. was one of only four countries –
along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand – that voted
against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when
it was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007, a move
that followed more than two decades of debate.
Most of the Native Americans (Indigenous
Peoples) of United States has different culture and have lost
their life while failing to adjust to the present American
Constitution. Whatever left is called Alaska Native, Native
American topics, Chamorro people, Native Hawaiian, Native
American tribes etc. These Indigenous Peoples still live tribal
life.
On 19th December, UN Human Rights confirm the
announcement by President Barack Obama that the United States
supports the United Nations treaty outlining the rights of the
world’s estimated 370 million indigenous peoples including in
United States. With its announcement, the U.S. has now joined
the other three countries in endorsing the treaty – a
non-binding text that sets out the individual and collective
rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to
culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and
other issues.
In addition, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of
indigenous peoples, James Anaya, issued a statement saying he is
“elated” at the US announcement, calling it a “groundbreaking
development” for Native Americans and all those who seek greater
protection for human rights across the globe.
“With its endorsement of the Declaration,
the United States strengthens it stated commitment to improve
the conditions of Native Americans and to address broken
promises. Indigenous peoples can now look to the Declaration as
a means of holding the United States to that commitment,” said
Mr. Anaya, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights
Council in an independent and unpaid capacity.
The Declaration emphasizes the rights of
indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own
institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their
development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.
It also prohibits discrimination against
indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective
participation in all matters that concern them, and their right
to remain distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic
and social development.
On 11/18/2010, I have written an article on
searchwrap under heading:
Violation of Human Rights of 370 Million Indigenous Peoples in
the World
.It details who are indigenous peoples of the world? How they
look? And what are their human rights?
Indigenous peoples are an ethnic group
living in a geographical region to which they experienced the
historical connection. .. Indigenous peoples in Canada are
considered indigenous to Canada. Indigenous peoples of the
Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North, Central and
South America, their descendants and those stilling in territory
of United States.
Important human rights of Indigenous Peoples, approved by the
United Nations and which are now entitled to Native Americans of
United States are the following:
1 Native Americans are free and equal to
all other civilizations developed.
2. Native Americans have the right to self determination. . They
have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters
relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways
and means for financing their autonomous functions.
3. Native Americans have the right to maintain and strengthen
their political, legal, economic, social and cultural rights,
while retaining their right to participate fully, if they wish,
in the political, economic, social and cultural development of
the State.
4 Native Americans and individuals have the right not subjected
to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
5 Native Americans shall not be forcibly removed from their
lands or territories.
6. Native Americans have the right to practice and revitalize
their cultural traditions and customs.
7. Native Americans have the right to manifest, practice,
develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions,
customs and ceremonies, the right to preserve, protect, and
private access to their religious and cultural sites.
8 Native Americans have the right to establish and control their
own educational systems and institutions providing education in
their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural
methods of teaching and learning.
9. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish their own
media in their own language
10. Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision
making on matters affecting their rights, through
representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their
own procedures and to maintain and develop their own
institutions of decision making.
11. Native Americans have the right to their traditional
medicines and to maintain their health practices, including
conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and
minerals.
12. Native Americans have the right to maintain and strengthen
their distinctive spiritual relationship with their
traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands,
territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to
assume their responsibilities towards future generations this
area .
13. Native Americans have the right to lands, territories and
resources traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or
acquired.
14. Military activities shall not take place in the lands or
territories of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a
significant threat against the public interest or otherwise
freely agreed upon or requested by the indigenous peoples
concerned.
15. Native Americans, in particular those divided by
international borders, have the right to maintain and develop
contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for
spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social, with their
own members as well as other peoples across borders.
|