And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 13:51:40 +0100 >From: Elsbeth Vocat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; U) >X-Accept-Language: de,de-CH >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Fwd: European Commission Resolution >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by lists.speakeasy.org id EAB10949 > >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >EUROPEAN COMMISSION >DIRECTORATE-GENERAL VIII >DEVELOPMENT >Sustainable development strategies >Social, human and cultural development; Gender > >Brussels, 15 January 1999 >VIII/A/2 D(99) 21980 > > >Subject: Council Resolution on indigenous peoples within the >framework of the development cooperation of the Community and the >Member States > >As you will know the European Commission issued a Working Document on >support for indigenous peoples in the development cooperation of the >Community and the Member States in May 1998. > >Subsequently the Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on the >issue, in the Council meeting the 18th of November 1998. In the >previous consultations it was agreed to distribute the Resolution to >the network contacted, and you will therefore find it enclosed. > >Yours sincerely, > > >Philippe DARMUZEY >Head of Unit > > >Enclosure: Council Resolution on Indigenous Peoples within the >framework of the development cooperation of the Community >and the Member States >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- > > 13461/98 (Presse 421) > > 2141th Council meeting >� D E V E L O P M E N T � > Brussels, 30 November 1998 > > President: Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER > > State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of >Austria > > >Indigenous peoples within the framework of the development cooperation >of the Community and the Member States >- Resolution > >"1. The Council recalls the conclusion of 5 June 1997 inviting the >Commission to present a policy paper on cooperation with and support for >indigenous peoples. The Council welcomes the Working Document of the >Commission on support for indigenous peoples in the development >cooperation of the Community and the Member States. > > The Council also takes note of the international instruments >addressing indigenous peoples, in particular the UN Resolution on the >International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the 1992 Rio >Declaration, together with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the >1993 Vienna Declaration and the ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and >Tribal Peoples. These call for the International Community to ensure >the economic, social and cultural well-being of indigenous peoples, >their enjoyment of the fruits of sustainable development and their full >and free participation in all aspects of society. > >2. Indigenous cultures constitute a heritage of diverse knowledge and >ideas, which is a potential resource to the entire planet. >Consequently, the Council acknowledges the importance that indigenous >peoples attach to the affirmation of their "self-development", that is >to say, the shaping of their own social, economic and cultural >development and their own cultural identities. This approach also >recognises their own diverse concepts of development, and asserts that >they should participate fully and freely in the development process. It >is also important to take into account the various country contexts in >which indigenous peoples live and to encourage the full participation of >indigenous peoples in the democratic processes of their country. To >overlook their participation may have unforeseen or even negative >impacts on indigenous peoples. > >3. The Council recognises that many indigenous peoples live in >developing countries where they often experience economic, social and >political marginalisation and are exposed to recurrent violations of >human rights. > >4. Furthermore, many indigenous peoples inhabit areas crucial for the >conservation of biodiversity, and maintain social and cultural practices >by way of which indigenous peoples have a special role in maintaining >and enhancing biological diversity and in providing unique sustainable >development models. The Council reiterates the political will of the EU >and its Member States to participate actively in the initiatives in the >framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity for supporting local >and indigenous peoples in their contribution to the conservation and >sustainable use of biological diversity. > >5. The Council recognises that cooperation with and support for the >establishment of partnerships with indigenous peoples is essential for >the objectives of poverty elimination, sustainable development of >natural resources, the observance of human rights and the development of >democracy. The Council notes in particular: > > � the key role played by indigenous peoples in the conservation and >sustainable use of natural resources; > � the positive contribution of indigenous peoples in the development >process; > � the vulnerability of indigenous peoples, and the risk that >development programmes may disadvantage them; > � that indigenous peoples have the same rights as everybody else to a >secure livelihood, and the lifestyle of their choice, and should be >treated equally in the legal framework; they should also have access, on >a non-discriminatory basis, to the opportunities and natural resources >required to achieve these aspirations, as well as multilingual education >and health services; > � that indigenous peoples have the right to choose their own >development paths, which includes the right to object to projects, in >particular in their traditional areas. This includes compensation where >projects negatively affect the livelihoods of indigenous peoples. > >6. The Council acknowledges that the development cooperation should >contribute to enhancing the right and capacity of indigenous peoples to >their "self-development". This implies integrating the concern for >indigenous peoples as a cross-cutting aspect at all levels of >development cooperation, including policy dialogue with partner >countries and enhancing the capacities of indigenous peoples' >organisations to take an effective part in the planning and >implementation of development programmes. > >7. A number of international development agencies and various EU Member >States have already developed policies and strategies to improve the >positive impact of development cooperation on indigenous peoples. The >European Commission is cooperating with and supporting indigenous >peoples through a wide range of policies, programmes and projects and >has taken several initiatives in order to prepare a more comprehensive >approach towards indigenous peoples. > >8. The Council also recognises the importance of coordination between >the Community and the Member States to avoid duplication of efforts and >to increase the effectiveness and adequacy of development support for >indigenous peoples. This will require mechanisms for consultation, >coordination and implementation. > >9. The Council recognises the need for a comprehensive policy, >including gender aspects for working with indigenous peoples, and >invites the Commission to develop further with Member States and in >cooperation with indigenous peoples the comprehensive policy outlined in >the Commission's Working Paper, with particular emphasis on practical >ways to implement this policy. The primary focus should be on >integrating the concern for indigenous peoples in existing procedures, >guidelines and manuals for development cooperation. This will require >further development of methodology in order to ensure indigenous peoples >are able to offer an informed view on activities envisaged so that their >full participation throughout the project cycle is ensured. Bearing in >mind the extreme heterogeneity of the various indigenous peoples in >different parts of the world, consideration should be given to the >development of specific strategies for specific circumstances. > >10. In this context the Commission and Member States should as soon as >possible examine the means to produce specific practical procedures for >its aid practitioners, illustrating key issues to be considered in order >to ensure that the particular needs of indigenous peoples are fully > > taken into account throughout the project cycle, drawing on the tools >used in the participatory approach to development and social impact >assessments. The Council suggests that the measures proposed should be >discussed with indigenous peoples and other partners who have interest >in the integration of indigenous peoples into the development process, >including local population, regional and local authorities, NGOs and >other actors in civil society and the private sector. The expert group >on social development should examine the feasibility of these measures, >review the status of implementation of the action plan outlined in the >working document on a regular basis and suggest, where appropriate, >further action to implement the policy guidance on cooperation with and >support of indigenous peoples. > >11. The Commission is asked to report back to the Council with a review >of progress in working with indigenous peoples in the second half of the >year 2000." > <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER=-=-=>>>> If you think you are too small to make a difference; try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito.... 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